[Use of calcium inhibitors excluding cardiac pathology and arterial hypertension].

Many studies have been done to try to define new therapeutic uses for calcium antagonists, in diseases in which calcium plays a role. Positive results have been obtained in the prevention of acute attacks of idiopathic Raynaud's disease and migraine, and in effort-induced asthma. Some activity could be demonstrated in selected groups of patients with pulmonary hypertension, manic-depressive illness, untractable epilepsy, various functional gynecological or digestive disorders, and in drug-induced nephrotoxicity. A possible effect on the prevention of resistance to anti-cancer drugs could be of major interest. Their antiplatelet effect, and their possible effect against atherosclerosis, which remains to be confirmed, their lack of side-effects in asthmatics and of interference with glucose regulation increase their usefulness in patients with hypertension or ischemic heart disease, especially when other diseases are present.