The new coronary vasodilators: calcium blockers

Considerable clinical promise is being shown by a group of investigational drugs that inhibit the movement of calcium into cells, thereby reducing both coronary and systemic vascular resistance and depressing myocardial contractility. In studies conducted here and abroad, calcium blockers appear to reduce the frequency of both typical and variant angina attacks and limit the extent and severity of myocardial injury in acute infarctions. Some of these agents also combat supraventricular tachyarrhythmias and reduce blood pressure in patients with systemic arterial hypertension.