Verapamil sustained-release in renal parenchymal hypertension: effect on blood pressure, kidney function, angiotensin II, aldosterone, arginine vasopressin, atrial natriuretic peptide, and lipoproteins.

In 14 patients with arterial hypertension secondary to chronic renal parenchymal disease and impaired renal function, 24-h ambulatory blood pressure, casual blood pressure, plasma concentrations of angiotensin II, aldosterone, arginine vasopressin and atrial natriuretic peptide, serum creatinine, plasma lipids and lipoproteins, and body weight were determined at the end of two consecutive 3-week periods; placebo was administered in the first period and verapamil sustained-release 240 mg was given in the second period. Verapamil reduced mean 24-h ambulatory blood pressure from 152/104 mm Hg (means) to 142/97 mm Hg. Blood pressure was reduced significantly during the daytime, in the evening, and in the early morning, but not at night. Casual blood pressure was also significantly reduced from 176/106 mm Hg to 154/96 mm Hg. No significant changes were determined in the hormones, serum creatinine, plasma lipids and lipoproteins, heart rate, or body weight. Atrial natriuretic peptide was correlated significantly with serum creatinine (p = 0.733, n = 14, p less than 0.01). We conclude that verapamil sustained-release 240 mg in one daily dose has a moderate blood-pressure-lowering effect in patients with chronic renal disease and hypertension without inducing tachycardia, activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, or increase in body weight, and without altering renal function and plasma lipids and lipoproteins. The positive correlation between atrial natriuretic peptide and serum creatinine may support the hypothesis that extracellular volume increases during progression of renal disease.