Evaluation of anti-atherosclerotic and vasculoprotective effect of long acting nifedipine in patients after PTCA.

ABSTRACT

The anti-atherosclerotic and vasculoprotective effect of long acting nifedipine (nicardia retard 20) was evaluated on patients undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). This was a randomised, controlled, prospective clinical trial. A total of 30 patients fulfilling inclusion criteria were divided randomly in 2 groups of 15 each. One group was given long acting nifedipine while other group did not receive long acting nifedipine. The rest of the treatment was similar for both the groups. Clinical and angiographic parameters were evaluated regularly for a period of one year. The group receiving long acting nifedipine showed 20% restenosis as against 33% in group not receiving long acting nifedipine. Thus, from this trial, it can be concluded that long acting nifedipine can reduce the progress of reocclusion and thus demonstrates the anti-atherosclerotic and vasculoprotective action.