Distensibility of Large Arteries in Elderly Hypertensive Patients After Chronic Treatment with Nicardipine SR

The brachial arterial compliance and the carotid blood flow were determined in 16 hypertensives older than 60 years (60–85; 67 ± 6.5), after 15 days of placebo or 2 months of therapy with nicardipine SR (40 mg b.i.d.), administered randomly following a crossover design, in a single-blind protocol. The hemodynamic parameters were determined 8 h after the last pill of nicardipine SR was taken. The study was performed both before and 2 h after the administration of 40 mg of nicardipine. Mean arterial blood pressure was significantly reduced after 40 mg of nicardipine, both in the patients on placebo (130 ± 12 vs 112 ± 13 mmHg; P < 0.001) and in the patients receiving chronic treatment with nicardipine SR (118 ± 13 vs 108 ± 10 mmHg; P < 0.01).