[Effects of i.v. nicardipine in the treatment of hypertensive crisis].

The availability of i.v. nicardipine has urged us to prove this drug in the treatment of hypertensive attacks (SAP greater than or equal to 210 mmHg and/or DAP greater than or equal to 110 mmHg). Two groups of patients (each made up of ten subjects) were treated with 2 mg and 5 mg respectively of i.v. nicardipine injected for 4 min while mean systolic and diastolic arterial pressure and heart rate were registered until three hours. I.V. nicardipine administration induced in both groups of patients a decrease in systolic pressure from 20 to 30% while diastolic arterial pressure decreased from 15 to 18% in the first group and from 20 to 25% in the second one. Heart rate showed an initial mild increase following arterial vasodilator action of nicardipine whereas it decreased significantly from 120 min in the presence of an unchanged hypotensive effect of the drug. One patient did not respond to nicardipine while another felt chest pain and palpitations. In conclusion our results are satisfactory and argue for the inclusion of nicardipine among the drugs that may be considered useful for the treatment of hypertensive attacks.