Effects of nisoldipine treatment on plasma lipoproteins

The effects of the new calcium antagonist nisoldipine on plasma lipoproteins were assessed in a group of 15 normolipidic hypertensive patients. After a two-week washout period, the patients were given 5- to 20-mg nisoldipine orally for four weeks. Nisoldipine treatment was associated with a significant increase in both high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (+ 14%, P <0.01), largely dependent on the increase in the denser subfraction HDL₃ (+ 13%, P <0.005), and apoprotein A (+ 12%, P <0.05). Total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, triglycerides, and apoprotein B did not change. Nisoldipine treatment appears to induce changes in the lipoprotein profile that are favorable to the cardiovascular risk in hypertensive patients.