Review article

Did the Zenith of Calcium Antagonists over?

Aleksandar Knežević

Abstract

Calcium antagonists are one of the most utilized
class of cardiovascular drugs. Currently available calcium
antagonists are not homogenus group, but fall into three
distinct structural classes. The primary mechanism of action
of dihydropyridines is vasodilatation, but nondihydropyridines
has influence on the cardiac conduction system, too. Calcium
antagonists are used in the management of hypertension,
coronary heart disease and certain cardiac arrhythmias.
Despite long time concern about increased cardiovascular
risk in patients who are treated with calcium antagonists, this
class of drugs are still very important in cardiovascular therapy,
especially if the appropriate selection of patients is done.
For the most of cardiac patients the multidrug therapy is
mandatory and in this therapy calcium antagonists have
important place. Until the new clasess of cardiovascular
drugs will be available, the role of calcium antagonists will be
further important in the management of cardiovascular diseases.

Keywords

calcium antagonists; cardiovascular diseases; therapy

Hrčak ID:

19948

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/19948

Publication date:

13.2.2002.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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