Long-term effects of benidipine on the regression of left ventricular hypertrophy in essential hypertension

The effects of the calcium antagonist benidipine on left ventricular (LV) mass and the plasma level of endothelin (ET)-1 like immunoreactivity were analyzed in patients with essential hypertension. Twenty-six untreated essential hypertensive patients with LV hypertrophy and 9 untreated essential hypertensive patients without LV hypertrophy were given benidipine for 12 months. LV mass was calculated based on M-mode echocardiographic measurements. Benidipine reduced systolic and diastolic pressures from 173±12/101±10 to 140±10/85±10 mmHg, respectively, (p<0.01) without associated increase in heart rate in patients with LV hypertrophy. Benidipine also reduced the LV mass index in patients with LV hypertrophy (171±55 to 152±37 g/m², p<0.01), but no change was noted in LV mass index in patients without hypertrophy. Changes in the LV mass index did not correlate with changes in systolic pressure. The plasma level of ET-1 like immunoreactivity was not affected by benidipine in patients with and without LV hypertrophy. This study provides new information concerning the long-term effects of benidipine; benidipine was used effectively as monotherapy for hypertension for 12 months and it reduced the LV mass in patients with hypertrophy.