Endogenous nitric oxide and lipid peroxidation in ischemic heart disease

This study was performed on 30 patients with ischemic heart disease [IHD] categorized according to the stability of chest pain into three groups: A unstable angina group [n = 10], B stable angina group [n = 10] and C silent ischemia group [n = 10]. A significant decrease in total serum nitrite [NO2-] and nitrate [NO3-] and a significant increase in serum malondialdehyde [MDA] were found in all patients groups versus the control group. The same findings were noticed in the unstable angina group versus both the stable angina and the silent ischemia group. The sex, type of arrhythmia, presence or absence of ST segment depression in electrocardiographic Holter monitoring and the echocardiographic findings did not affect the mean levels of both parameters. A significant negative correlation was found between both measured parameters

Efficacy and safety of amlodipine in hypertensive patients with renal impairment

This study included 30 patients with mild to moderate hypertension and mild to moderate renal impairment. After two weeks of placebo, amlodipine [5 mg] was given to all patients for 10 weeks. The dose was increased to 10 mg after 4 weeks if there is inadequate control of the blood pressure. Echocardiography, glomerular filtration rate [GFR] and various laboratory function tests were done before and after treatment. Amlodipine produced significant blood pressure reduction throughout the study. GFR was significantly increased after the end of the study. All other laboratory functions and echocardiographic measurements showed no variation. Adverse events [23.3%] were mild or moderate and tolerated by all patients, except one patient who was discontinued from the study due to severe headache. Amlodipine can be used safely in hypertensive patients with renal impairment and, moreover, it leads to improvement of GFR in these patients