Isaac Kobrin

Enalapril improves systemic and renal hemodynamics and allows regression of left ventricular mass in essential hypertension

Enalapril, a new angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, is an effective antihypertensive agent for both renovascular and essential hypertension. It is structurally different from captopril in that it does not possess a sulfhydryl group. The systemic and renal hemodynamic, biochemical and cardiac adaptive changes induced by enalapril were studied in 8 patients with essential hypertension before and after 12 weeks of therapy. Mean arterial pressure decreased from 110 to 90 mm Hg (p less than 0.01), and this was mediated through a decrease in total peripheral resistance from 42 +/- 3 to 32 +/- 3 U (p less than 0.01). Cardiac index and heart rate did not change. Renal plasma flow was increased in 6 of 8 patients and renal vascular resistance decreased from 123 +/- 6 to 91 +/- 7 U (p less than 0.001). Left ventricular mass index decreased from a mean of 166 +/- 29 to 117 +/- 8 g/m2 (p less than 0.05) without impaired myocardial contractility. Thus, enalapril lowers arterial pressure by reducing total peripheral resistance without reflexive cardiac effects. It also has favorable hemodynamic effects on the kidney. This is the first report of regression of LV mass with this agent in man.

Immediate and short-term hemodynamic effects of diltiazem in patients with hypertension.

The immediate effects of intravenous diltiazem effects and short-term (4 weeks) of the oral drug on systemic and regional hemodynamics, cardiac structure, and humoral responses were evaluated by previously reported methods in nine patients with mild-to-moderate essential hypertension and in one patient with primary aldosteronism. Diltiazem was first administered in three intravenous doses of 0.06, 0.06, and 0.12 mg/kg, respectively; patients were then treated for 4 weeks with daily doses ranging from 240 to 360 mg (average 300 mg). Intravenous diltiazem immediately reduced mean arterial pressure (from 115 +/- 3 to 96 +/- 3 mm Hg; p less than .01) through a fall in total peripheral resistance index (from 37 +/- 3 to 23 +/- 2 U/m2; p less than .01) that was associated with an increase in heart rate (from 66 +/- 2 to 77 +/- 3 beats/min; p less than .01) and cardiac index (from 3.3 +/- 0.3 to 4.3 +/- 0.4 liters/min/m2; p less than .01). These changes were not associated with changes in plasma levels of catecholamines or aldosterone or in plasma renin activity. After 4 weeks the significant decrease in mean arterial pressure persisted (104 +/- 3 mm Hg; p less than .01) and there were still no changes in the humoral substances or plasma volume. Renal blood flow index increased (from 368 +/- 52 to 462 +/- 57 ml/min/m2; p less than .01) and renal vascular resistance index decreased (from 0.37 +/- 0.06 to 0.26 +/- 0.04 U/m2; p less than .01), while splanchnic hemodynamics did not change.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Time course of regression of left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive patients treated with atenolol.

Regression of left ventricular hypertrophy occurs with a number of antihypertensive drugs, but the time course of this regression has not been defined clearly. We obtained echocardiograms at baseline and serially (on seven occasions) during a 1 year treatment period with the beta-adrenergic receptor inhibitor atenolol in 12 patients with previously untreated essential hypertension. To ensure control of blood pressure in all patients throughout the study, it was necessary to add a thiazide diuretic to the therapy of five patients. Baseline blood pressure was 155/100 mm Hg and fell to 136/84 mm Hg; there was a 20% reduction in heart rate. Posterior and septal wall thicknesses were reduced from 1.16 +/- 0.03 to 1.06 +/- 0.02 cm (p less than .05) and from 1.28 +/- 0.07 to 1.18 +/- 0.06 cm (p less than .05), respectively; this reduction became significant initially at 4 weeks. Left ventricular mass decreased from 144 +/- 9 to 127 +/- 7 g/m2 (p less than .05) and this fall first became statistically significant at 6 months. Significant reduction in electrocardiographic voltages was also seen at 6 months. Therefore, regression of left ventricular hypertrophy with atenolol-induced blood pressure control occurred as early as 4 weeks after starting therapy and was maintained thereafter without apparent compromise of left ventricular systolic function.

Cardiovascular effects and regional blood flow distribution associated with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition (captopril) in essential hypertension

Systemic and regional hemodynamics and cardiac structural changes were studied in 12 patients with mild to moderately severe essential hypertension before and then 90 minutes and 12 weeks after administration of captopril. Mean arterial pressure was reduced from 111 mm Hg to 96 mm Hg (p less than 0.001), and this was mediated through a fall in total peripheral resistance from 26 +/- 2 units to 23 +/- 2 units (p less than 0.01). The decreased total peripheral resistance was distributed to all circulations studied: kidney, skeletal muscle, skin and the splanchnic organs. Furthermore, left ventricular (LV) mass index diminished without altering myocardial contractility at rest. Thus, captopril lowered arterial pressure through systemic arteriolar dilatation in patients with mild to moderately severe essential hypertension and also reduced LV mass even in patients without evidence of LV hypertrophy.

Efficacy of Mibefradil Compared With Amlodipine in Suppressing Exercise-Induced and Daily Silent Ischemia Results of a Multicenter, Placebo-Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND Mibefradil is a new benzimidazolyl-substituted tetraline-derivative calcium antagonist. Its vasodilatory activity combined with an ability to lower heart rate without negative inotropic effects as well as its long duration of action make it a promising anti-ischemic agent. METHODS AND RESULTS Three hundred nine patients with coronary artery disease, stable angina pectoris, and positive exercise tests were randomized to receive mibefradil (50, 100, or 150 mg), amlodipine (10 mg), or placebo. The anti-ischemic effects of mibefradil on exercise test and silent ischemia parameters were assessed. At doses of 100 and 150 mg, mibefradil increased exercise duration (by 55.5 and 51.0 seconds, respectively; P<.001 for both), increased time to onset of angina (by 98.3 and 82.7 seconds, respectively; P<.001), and increased time to 1-mm ST depression (by 81.7 and 94.3 seconds, respectively; P<.001). By comparison, a 10 mg/d dose of amlodipine significantly improved only time to onset of angina (treatment effect: 38.5 seconds, P=.036). Mibefradil 100 mg and 150 mg decreased the number of episodes of silent ischemia (treatment effects: -3.1 and -3.6, respectively; P<.001) and the duration of silent ischemia (treatment effects: -9.2 minutes, P=.048, and -14.6 minutes, P=.002, respectively). The decrease in the number of episodes of silent ischemia was also statistically significant in the group receiving 10 mg of amlodipine (-1.5; P=.036). CONCLUSIONS Once-daily doses of 100 and 150 mg mibefradil were effective in improving exercise tolerance and reducing ischemic episodes during ambulatory monitoring in patients with coronary artery disease.

Dose-Response Characteristics of Mibefradil, a Novel Calcium Antagonist, in the Treatment of Essential Hypertension*

The aim of this study was to determine the dose-response characteristics of the calcium antagonist, mibefradil, and to evaluate its antihypertensive efficacy and safety in varying doses in patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension. Three hundred and three eligible patients were randomized to receive once-daily 6.25-, 12.5-, 25-, 50-, 100-, 150-, or 200-mg mibefradil doses or placebo for 4 weeks. Repeated blood pressure measurements and electrocardiographic recordings were obtained for the 24 h following the last dose of the placebo run-in period and for the first and last doses of randomized treatment. A statistically significant (P < .001 versus placebo) and clinically relevant drop in sitting diastolic blood pressure (SDBP) both at trough and at peak was observed in the 50-, 100-, 150-, and 200-mg mibefradil dose groups (trough placebo-corrected reductions: -4.9, -9.1, -9.9, and -11.9 mm Hg, respectively), with a significant dose-response relationship (P < .001) and high response rates. Trough/peak ratios for the placebo-corrected change from baseline to week 4 in SDBP were >85% for the 50- and 100-mg doses and 68% and 69% for the 150- and 200-mg doses, respectively. The full antihypertensive effect of mibefradil was achieved within 1 week of treatment. Reductions in sitting systolic blood pressure (SSBP) closely paralleled those in SDBP. The antihypertensive effect of mibefradil was associated with a slight dose-dependent decrease in heart rate and increase in the pulse rate (PR) electrocardiographic interval [corrected]. The appropriate therapeutic dose range of mibefradil in the management of mild-to-moderate essential hypertension is 50 to 100 mg.

Safety of Mibefradil, a New Once-a-Day, Selective T-Type Calcium Channel Antagonist

The safety and tolerability of mibefradil, a selective T-type calcium channel antagonist, were evaluated in 3,430 patients with essential hypertension and chronic stable angina pectoris treated in 15 double-blind placebo and active-controlled clinical trials and 2 open-label, long-term safety studies. Of these patients, 2,636 were treated with the recommended doses of mibefradil (50 and 100 mg) and form the basis of this report. With the 50-mg dose of mibefradil, the incidence of each adverse event was similar to, or lower than, that observed in the placebo-treated patients. Treatment with the 100-mg dose was associated with a slightly higher incidence compared to placebo of dizziness (2.1% vs 1.8%), leg edema (3.5% vs 1.4%), fatigue (2.1% vs 1.4%), and lightheadedness (2.1% vs 0.4%). The incidence of headache (4.6%) and angina pectoris (1.1%) was more frequent in patients treated with placebo. In active-controlled trials, a lower incidence of pedal edema (5.1%) was observed with mibefradil compared to amlodipine (25.7%), diltiazem SR/CD (9.4%), or nifedipine SR/GITS (17.4%). Overall, mibefradil was better tolerated than amlodipine and nifedipine SR/GITS and was as well tolerated as diltiazem SR/CD. Rates of premature discontinuation due to clinically adverse experiences with the 50- and 100-mg doses were 2.5% and 3.5%, respectively, compared with placebo (3.5%). No consistent pattern of laboratory adverse experiences were observed for mibefradil. Sinus bradycardia (heart rate <45 beats/minute) and first-degree atrioventricular block were the only relevant treatment-emergent electrocardiographic changes that occurred more frequently with mibefradil than with placebo. No evidence of first-dose effects was observed in mibefradil-treated patients, and withdrawal effects were not observed in clinical trials. There were no clinically important differences in safety profiles in the demographic subgroups for age, gender, or race. The results of this comprehensive safety analysis indicate that treatment with the recommended doses of mibefradil is well tolerated and safe.

Mibefradil, a novel calcium antagonist, in elderly patients with hypertension : Favorable hemodynamics and pharmacokinetics

A multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 310 elderly patients with mild-to-moderate essential hypertension was conducted in 20 sites throughout Europe, Brazil, and Israel to assess the antihypertensive efficacy, tolerability, safety, and dose-response characteristics of the novel calcium antagonist mibefradil in the elderly. Patients were randomly assigned to receive once-daily doses of 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, or 100 mg of mibefradil or placebo for 4 weeks. Statistically significant and clinically relevant reductions in sitting diastolic blood pressure (SDBP) and sitting systolic blood pressure (SSBP) were observed with the 50 and 100 mg doses. Therapeutic responses reached 88.5% for SDBP and 76.5% for SSBP in the 100 mg group. Trough/peak ratios were > 75% in SDBP and SSBP with the 50 mg and 100 mg doses. At doses of 50 to 100 mg once daily, mibefradil was well tolerated and effective with a high antihypertensive response rate and consistent 24-hour blood pressure control in elderly patients.

Renal response to acute volume overload in conscious rats with atrial appendectomy.

The presence of volume receptors and a potent natriuretic factor (ANF) in mammalian cardiac atria strongly suggests a central role of the atria in extracellular fluid volume regulation. ANF is stored within granules in atrial appendages, and their removal could alter the response to volume overload. We tested this hypothesis in conscious Wistar rats two weeks after sham operative or atrial appendectomy. The results indicate that removal of the atrial appendages significantly reduced their urinary excretion of water, sodium and potassium during the first hour following acute volume overload. It is concluded that atrial appendectomy alters the ability of rats to handle acute volume overload possibly through a reduction in the ANF available for release.

Immediate hemodynamic effects of urapidil in patients with essential hypertension

Systemic, renal and splanchnic hemodynamics and certain reflex and endocrine responses were determined in 10 patients with essential hypertension before and after intravenous administration of urapidil, a new antihypertensive agent that acts through both central and peripheral alpha-adrenergic inhibitory mechanisms. The reduction in mean arterial pressure by 12% (103 +/- 3 vs 91 +/- 6 mm Hg, p less than 0.05) was mediated through a decreased total peripheral resistance index (from 34 +/- 2 to 25 +/- 3 U/m2, p less than 0.01), which was associated with a significant reflexive increase in cardiac index, heart rate and serum norepinephrine level. This hypotensive effect was also associated with blunted Valsalva overshoot and orthostatic hypotension, suggesting peripheral arteriolar and venular dilation. Renal and splanchnic blood flows increased (p less than 0.05), resistances in these vascular beds decreased (p less than 0.01) and there were no changes in creatinine clearance or glomerular filtration fraction. Thus, intravenous urapidil reduced arterial pressure by decreasing total peripheral, renal and splanchnic resistances associated with maintained organ flows and increased heart rate and cardiac index.