The acute effects of nifedipine on red cell deformability in angina pectoris.

In a randomised double-blind study, the effects on red cell deformability of a single sublingual dose of nifedipine were compared with placebo in eight patients with stable angina pectoris. Red cell deformability, measured by filtration and centrifugation techniques, was significantly increased at rest in all eight patients 1 h after nifedipine, while no change occurred after placebo. The improvement in deformability after nifedipine was maintained at the end of a period of exercise and unchanged from resting values after placebo. The results suggest that the increased deformability of red cells after nifedipine could contribute to the therapeutic effects of the drug in myocardial ischaemia.