Nifedipine Lowers BP and Platelet Aggregation Ability Suggesting uses in cardiovascular diseases with platelet involvement

In an open trial, 20 hypertensive patients, aged a mean of 62.9 years, received nifedipine 30 mgjday for 8 weeks. An in vitro study was also conducted where nifedipine was added to platelet-rich plasma to a final concentration of 5 and 1 0 JLg/ml.

Mean BP decreased from 166/97 to 147 /88mm Hg (p < 0.05/p < 0.01) after 2 weeks and to 137 I 80mm Hg (p < 0.05/p < 0.01) after 8 weeks. Platelet aggregation ability of adenosine diphosphate (ADP) was significantly reduced after 2, 4 and 8 weeks of nifedipine therapy. Serum thromboxane 82 fell from 217.3 to 119 pgjml (p < 0.01) after 2 weeks and to 99.1 pgjml (p < 0.01) after 8 weeks. Lactate dehydrogenase and creatine phosphokinase did not change significantly during treatment.

ADP-, epinephrine [adrenaline]-, arachidonate-,thrombin- and collagen-induced platelet aggregation was inhibited dose-dependently by the introduction of nifedipine in the in vitro study.

'In conclusion, the decrease in the platelet aggregation ability and in the TX-82 [thromboxane 8 2]

concentration due to treatment with nifedipine in hypertensive patients suggests that beneficial effect of nifedipine may well include various cardiovascular disorders with platelet involvement.'

Uehara S, Handa H. Hirayama A. Arzneimittei-Forschung 36 (11): 1687-1689, Nov 1986

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