Can the coronary atherosclerotic process be influenced by calcium antagonists?

Cell culture experiments and various animal models have shown that calcium antagonists can inhibit atheroma development. A number of antiatherosclerotic mechanisms have been proposed and the promising results of these in vitro and animal experiments prompted clinical trials. Retrospective analyses i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inDrugs (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 44 Suppl 1; p. 123
Main Authors Kober, G, Schneider, W, Cieslinski, G, Kaltenbach, M
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New Zealand 1992
Subjects
Animals
Arteriosclerosis - drug therapy
Cells, Cultured
Heart - drug effects
Humans
Nifedipine - pharmacology
Nifedipine - therapeutic use
Prospective Studies
Retrospective Studies
Verapamil - pharmacology
Verapamil - therapeutic use
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Summary:Cell culture experiments and various animal models have shown that calcium antagonists can inhibit atheroma development. A number of antiatherosclerotic mechanisms have been proposed and the promising results of these in vitro and animal experiments prompted clinical trials. Retrospective analyses indicated that verapamil might retard disease progression and the development of new stenoses. Prospective clinical studies, however, have revealed no effect by calcium antagonists on pre-existing coronary stenoses (> or = 20%) and it is suggested that the study duration (2 to 3 years) may have been too short and that advanced stages of atheromatous disease are not influenced by calcium antagonists. Current data suggest that only early stages of coronary atheromatosis may be affected by treatment with calcium antagonists; however, optimum drug, dosage and suitable patients are yet to be defined.
ISSN:0012-6667
1179-1950
DOI:10.2165/00003495-199200441-00023