[Calcium antagonists: current and future applications based on new evidence. Pleiotropic effects of calcium channel blockers on vascular endothelial function].

Ample evidence has demonstrated that calcium channel blockers (CCBs) exert pleiotropic effects on vasculature, leading to restoring endothelial dysfunction and suppressing progression of atherosclerosis both in experimental and clinical settings. CCBs protect vasculature by various antioxidative mechanisms as follows : stimulating endothelial NO production and/or restoring decline in circulating adiponectin and HDL level. Moreover, CCBs has been also demonstrated to enhance circulating endothelial progenitor cell level, of which has been known to correlate to endothelial function. through its antioxidative property. Accordingly, these evidences suggest that CCB could be expected as another antiatherosclerotic remedy in patient population.