Healing of malignant hypertensive arteriopathy in Dahl rats by nifedipine.

Pathomorphological studies were undertaken to investigate the therapeutic effect of the Ca2+-antagonist nifedipine on malignant hypertensive arteriopathy in Dahl salt-sensitive rats. The individual course of disease was followed by comparing pre-treatment biopsies of the mesenteric arteries with post-treatment findings at necropsy. Within seven weeks, continuous therapy with nifedipine resulted in healing of early vascular lesions and in partial repair of the more advanced ones. Under normalization of blood pressure, vascular fibrinoid exacerbations were prevented and existing intramural fibrin insudates were completely or partially removed. Lamellar fibroelastosis of the intima occurred as a characteristic of repair.