ABSTRACT
Nifedipine effects on hypertensive patients with and without COPD were studied in 50 patients [25 with COD and 25 without]. All patients were males with mild to moderate essential hypertension [D.B.P.90 -115]. Their age ranged from 30 to 74 years. Oral nifedipine 10 mg TID was given for one month. The following parameters were assessed before and after treatment in both groups with and without COPD: systolic blood pressure [S.B.P], diastolic blood pressure [D.B.P], mean arterial pressure [M.A.P], ventilatory function [F.E.V[1], F.E.F.[25-75%], PEFR], arterial blood gases, blood urea, serum creatinine, plasma Na and K and fasting blood glucose. The results showed that nifedipine significantly reduces the systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure in patients with and without COPD. While ventilatory function parameters and arterial blood gases were not significantly affected in patients without COPD it showed significant increase in FEV[1] and peak expiratory flow rate [PEFR] and decrease PO[2] in patients with COPD. Plasma Na, K, blood urea, serum creatinine were not significantly affected while fasting blood glucose was significantly elevated [but still within normal limits] in both groups of patients with and without COPD