Nitrendipine–Induced Gingival Overgrowth in Dogs

T his study assessed the development of gingival overgrowth in dogs given nitrendipine, a new antihypertensive dihydropyridine. Nine male Beagle dogs with established plaque and gingivitis were used. Following a baseline examination, which involved assessment of plaque, gingivitis, and gingival enlargement, six dogs (test) received nitrendipine twice daily in a high dose, while 3 dogs (control) received placebo. Clinical scorings were repeated after 10 and 20 weeks. At termination of the study gingival biopsies were excised and examined morphometrically. Already at the 10‐week examination definite changes in gingival size had occurred, and following 20 weeks of nitrendipine treatment the gingival enlargement had markedly increased. In none of the control dogs were there any signs of gingival size changes. The histopathological examination showed that the only principal changes in histopathological morphology were that areas of non‐infiltrated connective tissue in test specimens showed an increase in vascularity and appeared more loose compared with the dense tissue in control specimens. The morphometric analysis demonstrated minor differences between test and control specimens in regard to all tissue fractions observed; however, such differences were numerically very small, and were not considered biologically significant. Thus, the results demonstrated that nitrendipine administered to Beagle dogs during a 20‐week period causes marked overgrowth of gingival tissue of apparently normal composition. The fact that cases of gingival overgrowth have been reported among patients receiving other dihydropyridines suggest that the observed gingival overgrowth is an effect of this class of drugs.