Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

Postinfarct Treatment with Verapamil

Effect of Verapamil in Patients with Hypertension

  • Published:
Drugs Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

In the Danish Verapamil Infarction Trial II (DAVIT II), treatment with verapamil 360 mg/ day improved reinfarction-free survival compared with administration of placebo. Verapamil appears to effectively prevent reinfarction and sudden death, i.e. sudden events (hazard ratio 0.78 compared with placebo, 95% confidence limits 0.62 to 0.99).

In a retrospective analysis of data from DAVIT II, verapamil treatment in patients with systemic hypertension prevented reinfarction significantly better than placebo (15 of 149 verapamil recipients compared with 27 of 152 placebo recipients reinfarcted, p = 0.04). Similarly, first cardiovascular events, i.e. first reinfarction, first stroke or death, were prevented more effectively by verapamil treatment than by administration of placebo (29 verapamil recipients vs 42 placebo recipients had first cardiovascular events, p = 0.07).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles and news from researchers in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.

References

  • Beta-Blocker Pooling Project Research Group. The beta-blocker pooling project (BBPP): subgroup findings from randomized trials in postinfarct patients. European Heart Journal 9: 8–16, 1988

    Google Scholar 

  • Betocchi S, Piscione F, Perrone-Filadi P, Pace L, Cappelli-Bigazzi M, et al. Effect of intravenous verapamil on left ventricular relaxation and filling in stable angina pectoris. American Journal of Cardiology 66: 818–825, 1990

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Danish Study Group on Verapamil in Myocardial Infarction. The effect of verapamil on mortality and major events after acute myocardial infarction (The Danish Verapamil Infarction Trial II — DAVIT II). American Journal of Cardiology 66: 779–785, 1990a

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Danish Study Group on Verapamil in Myocardial Infarction. Secondary prevention with verapamil after myocardial infarction. American Journal of Cardiology, 66: 331–401, 1990b

    Google Scholar 

  • Davies MJ, Thomas AC, Knapman PA, Hangartner JR. Intramyocardial platelet aggregation in patients with unstable angina suffering sudden ischemic cardiac death. Circulation 73: 418–427, 1986

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Falk E. Unstable angina with fatal outcome: dynamic coronary thrombosis leading to infarction and/or sudden death. Circulation 71: 699–707, 1985

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hagemeijer F. Verapamil in the management of supraventricular arrhythmias occurring after a recent myocardial infarction. Circulation 57: 751–755, 1978

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Holzgreve H, Distler A, Michaelis J, Philipp T, Wellek S (VERDI Trial Research Group). Verapamil versus hydrochlorothiazide in the treatment of hypertension: results of long term double blind comparative trial. British Medical Journal 299: 881–886, 1989

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson SM, Mauritson DR, Willerson JT, Hillis LD. A controlled trial of verapamil for Prinzmetal’s variant angina. New England Journal of Medicine 304: 862–866, 1981

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kaumann JA, Aramandia P. Prevention of ventricular fibrillation induced by coronary artery ligation. Journal of Pharmacological and Experimental Therapy 164: 326–340, 1968

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kloner RA, Braunwald E. Effects of calcium antagonists on in-farcting myocardium American Journal of Cardiology 59: 84B–94B, 1987

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Krikler DM, Spurell RAJ. Verapamil in the treatment of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. Postgraduate Medical Journal 50: 447–453, 1974

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lahiri A, Rodrigues EA, Caboni GP, Raftery ER. Effect of longterm treatment with calcium antagonists on left ventricular diastolic function in stable angina and heart failure. Circulation 81 (Suppl. III): III130–III138, 1990

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Levy D, Garrison RJ, Savage DD, Kannel WB, Castelli WP. Prognostic implications of echocardiographically determined left ventricular mass in the Framingham Heart Study. New England Journal of Medicine 322: 1561–1566, 1990

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis GRJ, Morley KD, Lewis BM. The treatment of hypertension with verapamil. New Zealand Medical Journal 87: 351–354, 1978

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mauri F, Mafrici A, Biraghi M, Cerri P, DeBiase AM. Effectiveness of calcium antagonist drugs in patients with unstable angina and proven coronary artery disease. European Heart Journal 9 (Suppl. N): 158–163, 1988

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mauritson DR, Johnson SM, Winniford MD, Gary JR, Willerson JT, et al. Verapamil for unstable angina at rest. A short termed randomized, double blind study. American Heart Journal 106: 652–658, 1983

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McLenachan JM, Henderson E, Morris KI, Dargie HJ. Ventricular arrhythmias in patients with hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy. New England Journal of Medicine 317: 787–792, 1987

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Messerli FH, Nunez BD, Nunez MM, Garavaglia GE, Schmieder RE, et al. Hypertension and sudden death. Archives of Internal Medicine 149: 1263–1267, 1989

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Messerli FH, Ventura OH, Elizardi DJ, Dunn FG, Fröhlich ED. Hypertension and sudden death: increased ventricular ectopic activity in left ventricular hypertrophy. American Journal of Medicine 77: 18–22, 1984

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Midtbo KA. Effect of long-term verapamil therapy on serum lipids and other metabolic parameters. American Journal of Cardiology 66: 131–151, 1990

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Midtbo KA, Hals O, Lauve O, Van der Meer J, Storstein L. Studies on verapamil in the treatment of essential hypertension, a review. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 21: 1655–1715, 1986

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moss AJ, Oakes D, Rubinson M, McDermott M, Carleen E, et al. The Multicenter Diltiazem Postinfarction Trial Research Group. Effect of diltiazem on long-term outcome after acute myocardial infarction in patients with and without a history of systemic hypertension. American Journal of Cardiology 68: 429–433, 1991

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Müller FB, Ha RH, Hotz H, Schmidlin O, Follath F, et al. Once a day verapamil in essential hypertension British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 21: 143S–147S, 1986

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nayler WG. Calcium antagonists and the ischemic myocardium. International Journal of Cardiology 15: 267–285, 1987

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nayler WG, Krikler D. Verapamil and the myocardium. Postgraduate Medical Journal 50: 441–446, 1974

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Opie LH, Clusin WT. Cellular mechanism for ischemie ventricular arrhythmias. Annual Review of Medicine 41: 231–238, 1990

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Parmley WW. Vascular protection from atherosclerosis: potential of calcium antagonists. American Journal of Cardiology 66: 161–221, 1990

    Google Scholar 

  • Parodi O, Simonetti I, Michelassi C, Carpeggiani C, Biagini A, et al. Comparison of verapamil and propranolol therapy for angina at rest: a randomized multiple crossover, controlled trial in the coronary care unit. American Journal of Cardiology 57: 899–906, 1986

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pedersen OL. Does verapamil have a clinical significant anti-hypertensive effect. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 13: 21–24, 1978

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peter T, Fujimoto T, Hamamoto H, Mandel WJ. Comparative study of the effect of slow channel inhibiting agents on ischemia induced conduction delay as relevant to the genesis of ventricular fibrillation. American Heart Journal 106: 1023–1028, 1983

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rango R, Graham R. Verapamil decreases cardiac norepinephrine. Clinical and Investigative Medicine 14 (Suppl.): 17, 1991

    Google Scholar 

  • Richard G, Hauss M, Schömig A. Calcium antagonists and cardiac ispadrenaline release in ischemia. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology 23: 269–277, 1991

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rolli A, Favaro L, Finardi A, Aurier E, Bonatti V, et al. Efficacité du verapamil dans la prevention de la fibrillation ventriculaire à la phase aiguë de l’infarctus du myocarde. Archive de Maladie du Coeur et Vassaux 81: 907–911, 1988

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schulman SP, Weiss JL, Becker LC, Gottlieb SO, Woodruff KM, et al. The effect of antihypertensive therapy on left ventricular mass in elderly patients. New England Journal of Medicine 322: 1350–1356, 1990

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Setaro JFG, Zaret BL, Schulman DS, Black HR, Soufer R. Usefulness of verapamil for congestive heart failure associated with abnormal left ventricular diastolic filling and normal left ventricular systolic performance. American Journal of Cardiology 66: 981–986, 1990

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Subramanian VB, Bowles ML, Lahiri A, Davies AB, Raftery EB. Longterm antianginal action of verapamil assessed with quan-titated serial treadmill stress testing. American Journal of Cardiology 48: 529–535, 1981

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Winther K, Jespersen CM, Rydberg B, Thamsborg G, Hedner T. Dose-dependent effect of verapamil and nifedipine on in vivo platelet function in normal volunteers. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 39: 291–293, 1990

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Woelfel A, Foster IR, McAllister RG, Simpson RJ, Gettes LS. Efficacy of verapamil in exercise-induced ventricular tachycardia. American Journal of Cardiology 56: 292–297, 1985

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yellon DM, Hearse DJ, Maxwell MP, Chambers DE, Downey JM, Sustained limitation of myocardial necrosis 24 hours after coronary occlusion: verapamil infusion in dogs with small myocardial infarcts. American Journal of Cardiology 51: 1409–1413, 1983

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiology, 146 Hvidovre University Hospital, Kettegård Alle 30, DK-2650, Hvidovre, Denmark

    Jørgen Fischer Hansen

Authors
  1. Jørgen Fischer Hansen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hansen, J.F. Postinfarct Treatment with Verapamil. Drugs 46 (Suppl 2), 54–60 (1993). https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-199300462-00011

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-199300462-00011

Keywords