The role of calcium channel blockers in the modern antihypertenive therapy

Abstract

L-type CCBs have been routinely employed in the treatment of arterial hypertension for over 40 years.In recent years, Western countries have ceased the development of new L-type CCBs with great vascular selectivity and long-lasting antihypertensive effects, while Japan has created novel CCBs that block not only L-type, but also L-/T, T-/N, or L-/T-/N-type Ca 2+ channels. These novel CCBs have antihypertensive effects that are similar to those of traditional L-type CCBs. They do, however, dilate both afferent and efferent arterioles, lowering filtration fraction and glomerular hypertension, decreasing proteinuria, and maybe slowing the progression of kidney disease to a greater extent than L-type CCBs. Furthermore, dual L/T and T/N-type CCBs cause minimal or no reflex tachycardia, reduce aldosterone secretion, and cause less pretibial edema.