Effects of felodipine ER, a dihydropyridine calcium antagonist, on blood pressure and serum lipids.

In an open trial, the antihypertensive efficacy of felodipine and its effects on lipid metabolism were investigated in 117 Nordic patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension and hyperlipidaemia. In the intent-to-treat analysis (n = 106) a significant (p < 0.01) drop in the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure values was observed between baseline and 24 weeks' treatment from 157/100 mmHg to 145/92 (supine) and from 155/103 to 145/96 mmHg (erect). No relevant differences were seen in the pulse rate. Median total cholesterol and triglycerides remained unchanged, whereas HDL-cholesterol increased significantly from 1.30 mmol/l to 1.33 mmol/l (p < 0.02); LDL- and VLDL-cholesterol, apolipoprotein A1 and apolipoprotein B remained unchanged during the 24-week treatment period. In the per protocol analysis (n = 76), blood pressure values changed significantly from 158/100 mmHg to 144/91 mmHg (supine) and from 157/104 mmHg to 143/95 mmHg (erect) (p < 0.01 for both). HDL-cholesterol increased significantly (p = 0.03), whereas LDL- and VLDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol and triglycerides, as well as the apolipoproteins, remained unchanged during the trial. Felodipine thus proved to possess positive effects on lipid parameters in hypertensive patients.