Effect of nicardipine in a hypertensive patient with diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Nicardipine, a new calcium antagonist, was given to an insulin-treated diabetic patient with severe hypertension that had resisted ordinary antihypertensive treatment. After substitution of treatment with nicardipine, his blood pressure decreased from 210/110 to 142/76 mmHg. Despite this significant decrease in blood pressure, the patient's renal blood flow, as estimated by endogenous creatinine clearance, increased. His daily requirement of insulin and his degree of proteinuria remained unchanged by the use of nicardipine.