RESUMEN
The beneficial effects of physical exercise on the blood pressure are widely recognised. Nevertheless, some athletes remain hypertensive and the treatment of this population makes special demands with respect to treatment efficacy and tolerability, the respect of athletic performance and problems of proscribed substances. For example, the Athletic Boards have prohibited betablockers and diuretics in competitive athletes. The aim of this study was to assess nicardipine LA 50 mg administered twice daily in the special context of hypertensive athletes. Thirty-eight athletes with mild or moderate hypertension undergoing endurance training were included in this double blind trial versus placebo. After two months treatment, the systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly lower at rest in the nicardipine than in the placebo group (delta SBP = -18.9 vs -4.1 mmHg, p less than 0.001; delta DBP = -15.7 vs -4.1 mmHg, p less than 0.01). In addition the maximum SBP on effort was significantly lower in the nicardipine group (200 vs 215 mmHg, p less than 0.05). On the other hand, no difference was observed between the two groups as regards the maximum oxygen consumption (delta VO2 max = 6.2 vs -0.4 ml/min/kg, NS) and duration of effort (13.75 vs 12.32 min, NS), showing that athletic performance was unchanged in the group treated by nicardipine LA. These results suggest that treatment with nicardipine LA fulfills the special criteria of hypertensive athletes.
Asunto(s)
Hipertensión/tratamiento farmacológico , Nicardipino/uso terapéutico , Esfuerzo Físico/efectos de los fármacos , Deportes , Adulto , Presión Sanguínea/efectos de los fármacos , Preparaciones de Acción Retardada , Método Doble Ciego , Tolerancia a Medicamentos , Prueba de Esfuerzo , Frecuencia Cardíaca/efectos de los fármacos , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Nicardipino/administración & dosificación , Consumo de Oxígeno/efectos de los fármacos , PlacebosRESUMEN
Three healthy males (18, 22 and 30 years of age; 85 kg/177 cm, 82 kg/181 cm and 75 kg/168 cm, respectively), synchronized with a diurnal activity (06.00 to 23.00 h) and nocturnal rest, volunteered for this study. Blood was sampled (venous catheter) hourly during a 24 h span. A radiocompetition method was used for cortisol determinations. Other steroids were first extracted (ethyl-ether) from each plasma sample, then chromatographed on a celite column to isolate 3 fractions: 1) delta 4-androstenedione (delta-4); 2) dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA); 3) testosterone (T). A radioimmunological assay was used thereafter for the determination of androgenic steroids. Statistically significant (both conventional and cosinor methods) circadian rhythms were detected (P > 0.005). Acrophases (peak times) occurred in the following order: cortisol (07.28), DHA (08.43), delta-4 (09.54), T (11.15) and DHT (16.37). The respective circadian amplitudes of DHA and delta-4 were smaller than those of cortisol while the amplitudes T and DHT did not show differences statistically significant from each other.