Antihypertensive effects of lacidipine during effort in mild to moderate hypertension

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of chronic treatment with lacidipine on blood pressure, heart rate and double product during and immediately after physical effort in mild to moderate hypertensive patients. This was a single-center, randomized, double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Eighteen hypertensive patients (56% males, median age 53 years) were randomized to lacidipine 4 mg o.i.d. followed by placebo or to placebo followed by lacidipine 4 mg o.i.d. Lacidipine compared with placebo exerted a significant antihypertensive effect, lowering SBP and DBP both at baseline and either during or after exercise test. The average incremental changes of SBP and DBP between pre-exercise stage and maximal effort did not show any significant differences between treatments. HR during treatment with lacidipine was higher than during treatment with placebo both at rest and after exercise, but at maximal effort, HR was not different from placebo. The average values of DP at maximal effort, and during recovery, did not show any significant differences. Lacidipine 4 mg was effective in lowering blood pressure and in maintaining its antihypertensive effect throughout and after physical exercise, without enhancing double product value, which is an indirect index of myocardial oxygen consumption.