Open AccessSubclinical atherosclerosis: The benefits of calcium antagonists
Author(s) -
О. М. Драпкина,
О. Н. Корнеева,
Н. В. Манькова
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
arterialʹnaâ gipertenziâ
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.126
H-Index - 5
eISSN - 2411-8524
pISSN - 1607-419X
DOI - 10.18705/1607-419x-2012-18-2-118-125
Subject(s) - subclinical infection , amlodipine , medicine , cardiology , intima media thickness , vasodilation , endothelial dysfunction , calcium , blood flow , arterial stiffness , carotid arteries , blood pressure
Recently the research has been focused on the earlier stages of the atherosclerotic process, i.e. subclinical atherosclerosis. Endothelial dysfunction is a suitable marker of subclinical atherosclerosis. In routine clinical practice, ultrasonography is the most useful and accessible non-invasive method for diagnosis of subclinical atherosclerosis. Carotid intimai media thickness (IMT) was shown to be predictive for the risk of cardiovascular events. Furthermore, vascular stiffness can be a helpful marker for assessment of the vascular wall state and blood flow. Calcium antagonists (CA) seem to be promising for the prevention of subclinical atherosclerosis progression, and amlodipine has the priority due to the metabolic neutralilty, vasodilation effect and favourable effects on renal hemodynamics. The data on IMT assessement showed that amlodipine slows down the development of atherosclerotic lesions in hypertensive patients.