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Nilvadipine Lowers Low-Density Lipoprotein in Hypertensive Patients: Presented at ISA

By Eurona Earl Tilley

KYOTO, JAPAN -- October 1, 2003 -- Nilvadipine, a lipophilic calcium channel blocker, decreases low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels in patients with hypertension, according to study results presented here September 30^th at the 13^th International Symposium on Atherosclerosis.

Dr. Werner O. Richter, Institute for Lipid Metabolism und Haemorrheology, Windach, Germany, and colleagues evaluated the blood pressure, heart rate, body weight, total cholesterol, LDL, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and triglyceride levels of patients at baseline, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months.

Of the 170 participants, 23 had a baseline LDL level of less than 130 mg/dL, 57 had a baseline level between 130 mg/dL and 160 mg/dL, 58 had a baseline between 160 mg/dL and 190 mg/dL, and 32 had a baseline level higher than 190 mg/dL.

Dr. Richter illustrated that a progressive decrease in LDL level was seen throughout the study, with a 6.7% mean decrease after 3 months, a 10.5% decrease after 6 months, a 15.8% decrease after 9 months, and a 18.3% decrease after 12 months.

Men had a 16.8% decrease in mean LDL level, and women a 20.0% decrease. The effect of nilvadipine on LDL levels was dose dependent. A dose of 16 mg/day caused a 22.8% decrease, while 8 mg/day caused a 17.5% decrease.

The higher the initial level of LDL, the more significantly nilvadipine was able to reduce LDL levels. Raw data show that after 12 months of treatment, patients who had an initial level of less than 130 mg/dL had a final mean level of 113.5 mg/dL. Those who had a baseline level greater than 190 mg/dL had a final mean level of 157.2 mg/dL.

Dr. Richter stated that nilvadipine is effective for reducing LDL-cholesterol levels. Since many patients with hypertension also have elevated LDL levels, the additional lipid-lowering benefits of nilvadipine may further reduce the coronary risk of these patients.

Although nilvadipine was shown to have a dose-dependent effect on LDL levels in patients with arterial hypertension, additional controlled clinical trials are required to further evaluate the effects of this drug.


[Study title: Effect of Nilvadipine on Serum Lipoproteins in Patients With Hypertension. Abstract 2P-0584]

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