[Comparison of nicardipine and nifedipine in treatment of Chinese senile hypertension placebo-control, double-blind, randomized and crossover study].

The purpose of this placebo-control, double-blind, randomized and crossover study is to evaluate the effect of nicardipine and nifedipine in Chinese senile hypertension. Among totally 37 senile hypertensive patients enrolled, 26 patients (25 males, 1 female) from 55 to 78 years of age (mean 65) who had finished one part or whole protocol were studied. Totally 18 cases after 6-week treatment of nicardipine (Perdipine) had blood pressure decrease significantly from 152.6 +/- 12.3/99.6 +/- 5.7 to 140.4 +/- 15.6/93.8 +/- 8.1 mmHg in supine position (P < 0.05), and from 153.3 +/- 12.7/98.7 +/- 7.7 to 139.2 +/- 13.5/90.7 +/- 7.6 mmHg in standing position (p < 0.05). Twenty-five cases after 6-week treatment of nifedipine (Towarat) also had significant blood pressure decrease from 155.0 +/- 13.3/99.5 +/- 8.4 to 144.2 +/- 10.0/95.3 +/- 9.2 mmHg in supine position (P < 0.05), and from 151.5 +/- 17.8/100.6 +/- 9.5 to 138.6 +/- 12.8/90.4 +/- 8.3 mmHg in standing position (p < 0.05). Heart rate was unchanged in both groups. Both nicardipine and nifedipine decreased blood pressure and increased heart rate significantly with the first dose of medication in the morning (P < 0.05). There was 6.5% and 9.0% decrease of systolic and diastolic blood pressure with nicardipine in supine position, 10.1% and 11.2% decrease with nifedipine in supine position, 6.3% and 7.2% decrease with nicardipine in standing position, and 9.7% and 10.6% decrease with nifedipine in standing position. The major side-effects were palpitation (20%) and lower abdominal distension (16%) with nicardipine; and nausea or vomiting (22%) and dizziness (15%) with nifedipine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)