A clinical study on the beneficial effects of nilvadipine on left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with hypertension

To investigate the effect of nilvadipine on regression of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in patients with hypertension, studies have been conducted through a cooperative effort by various medical centers. 48 patients with hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy were subjects in these studies. The patients were given 8 mg/day of nilvadipine orally for 6 consecutive months. In 33 of the 48 patients, a variety of parameters including ECG, echocardiography, etc were analyzed. Systolic (from 171 ± 15 mmHg to 140 ± 15 mmHg, p < 0.01) and diastolic blood pressure (from 104 ± 10 mmHg to 87 ± 12 mmHg, p < 0.01) were both decreased by this treatment, while heart rate remained unchanged (70 ± 12 to 69 ± 8 beats/min). Cardio-thoracic ratio decreased slightly (from 53.6 ± 4.7 to 52.2 ± 4.8%, 6 < 0.01). As indices of LVH, RV5 + SV1 in ECG decreased from 38.8 ± 11.1 mm to 35.5 ± 10.8 mm (p < 0.05). In echocardiogram, it was shown that posterior wall thickness decreased significantly from 12.3 ± 1.7 mm to 11.0 ± 1.7 mm (p < 0.001), although the thickness of the interventricular septum was unchanged (from 12.5 ± 2.2 mm to 12.0 ± 2.3 mm). Calculated left ventricular mass also decreased significantly from 280 ± 76 g to 257 ± 80 g (p < 0.05). Thus, it was concluded that nilvadipine has a favourable effect on the regression of LVH, as well as having an antihypertensive effect. We concluded that this new calcium antagonist is beneficial for patients with hypertensive LVH.