Calcium antagonists "some agents lower blood pressure and still put the heart at risk"?

Abstract

The 1,4 dihydropyridine calcium antagonists have several properties that theoretically make them attractive for treatment of hypertension and prevention as well as management of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, some of them appear to have actions that are detrimental for outcome. This brief review will first address the different subclasses of dihydropyridines, then outline differences between these subclasses which may impact on outcome in CAD and hypertension, and the last part will review present evidence for differences in cardiac outcome.