Gingival hyperplasia caused by nifedipine--a preliminary report.

We observed marked gingival hyperplasia, similar clinically and histologically to the hyperplasia caused by 5:5 sodium diphenylhydantoin (Dilantin) during the last 18 months in five patients treated by nifedipine. Histologically, marked epithelial hyperplasia-acanthosis, with moderate inflammatory reaction in the lamina propria, was observed in all the biopsy specimens. Evidence points to a strong relationship between the gingival hyperplasia and the administration of nifedipine.