Lacidipine is a highly vasoselective third- generation calcium
channel antagonist that has been shown to produce a sustained
reduction in elevated blood pressure, and a low incidence
of adverse effects. The present study was carried out to screen
the pharmacological effects of lacidipine on isolated rabbit
heart and to evaluate the cardioprotective effect of lacidipine
on isoprenaline induced heart failure in rats. Also the protective
effect of lacidipine on cyclosporine induced nephrotoxicity
in rats was studied. Data obtained in the present study
pointed out that lacidipine produced significant (P < 0.05) decrease
in the basal myocardial contractility of isolated rabbit
heart and the negative inotropic effect of lacidipine is much
less than that of nifidipine. Also lacidipine has cardioprotective
effect on isoprenaline induced heart failure in rats and can
effectively antagonize the renal functional and structural
changes induced by cyclosporine in rats. These data suggest a
new potential for lacidipine in the management of heart failure.
Also, we recommend the use of lacidipine for renal transplant
patients using cyclosporine for immune suppression to
protect their kidneys from cyclosporine induced nephrotoxicity. |
