The effect of nifedipine and captopril on platelet activation and prostanoid production in essential hypertension

Sixteen patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension were randomly allocated to 6 weeks of treatment with nifedipine and captopril in a crossover trial. Nifedipine and captopril lowered blood pressure significantly both 2 and 12 h after the last dose. Apart from an increased heart rate 2 h after the last dose of nifedipine, the heart rate did not change. Platelet factor 4, thromboxane B2, 6-keto prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto PGF1 alpha) and cyclic (c)AMP did not change during either therapy. There was no correlation between the plasma concentration of nifedipine measured 2 and 12 h after the last dose and the platelet variables described above. The findings show that nifedipine and captopril in therapeutic doses do not affect platelet activity in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension.