A study on the effects of nifedipine in hypertensive crises and severe hypertension.

Ten mg of Nifedipine, a Ca++ antagonist, was administered orally in 2 groups of patients; Group 1: 6 patients in hypertensive emergency and Group II: 12 patients with intractable, severe hypertension. Following results were obtained. 1) A marked hypotensive effect was observed in all patients of Group I. The maximum effect was observed within 30 to 60 min and lasted for approximately 180 min. Clinical symptoms also improved remarkably with the fall in blood pressure. Any side effect was not observed. 2) A marked hypotensive effect was observed in all cases of Group II. The blood pressure fell by 21.4% systolic (p less than 0.01) and 19.4% diastolic (p less than 0.02). The peripheral vascular resistance also showed the decrease by 26.2% (p less than 0.01). The heart rate and cardiac index increased slightly. It was suggested that the hypotensive mechanism of this preparation is due primarily to the peripheral vasodilation.