Effect of lacidipine, a long-acting calcium antagonist, on hypertension and lipids: a 1 year follow-up.

The effect of lacidipine, a dihydropyridine calcium antagonist on lipid metabolism, has been followed in 8 patients with uncomplicated mild to moderate essential hypertension treated for up to 14 months. There were significant reductions in the systolic and diastolic pressures, from 167/102 to 146/91 mm Hg at 2 months, and to 137/85 mm Hg at the end of the study. Blood lipid concentrations did not change during the observation period (cholesterol 5.1 vs 5.3 mmol.l-1, triglycerides 1.1 vs 1.0 mmol.l-1, HDL-cholesterol 1.1 vs 1.2 mmol.l-1). The results show that lacidipine did not affect lipid metabolism and suggest that calcium antagonists may be safely prescribed for a prolonged period to patients with combined hypertension and hyperlipidaemia.