Hasebe N, Kikuchi K Controlled-release nifedipine and candesartan low-dose combination therapy in patients with essential hypertension: the NICE Combi (Nifedipine and Candesartan Combination) Study. [Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial] J Hypertens 2005 Feb; 23(2):445-53.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy of low-dose controlled-release (CR) nifedipine (20 mg/day) plus candesartan (8 mg/day) combination therapy with that of up-titrated candesartan (12 mg/day) monotherapy. DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind study. SETTING: Outpatient study. PATIENTS AND PARTICIPANTS: Patients with essential hypertension, who did not achieve their target blood pressure with baseline treatment of candesartan 8 mg/day for 8 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Blood pressure, pulse pressure, urinary microalbumin excretion. RESULTS: Blood pressure was significantly reduced in both groups (P < 0.05), but the reduction was significantly greater in the combination therapy group (12.1 +/- 1.4/8.7 +/- 0.9 mmHg) than in the up-titrated monotherapy group (4.1 +/- 1.4/4.6 +/- 0.9 mmHg) (P < 0.0001). The reduction in pulse pressure was significantly greater in the combination therapy group (3.3 +/- 1.2 mmHg) than in the up-titrated monotherapy group (0.7 +/- 1.2 mmHg) (P = 0.0031). Urinary microalbumin excretion decreased significantly in the combination therapy group (from 61.9 to 40.5 mg/g creatinine; P < 0.05), but not in the up-titrated monotherapy group. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the low-dose combination therapy of nifedipine CR and candesartan is superior to the up-titrated monotherapy of candesartan in terms of blood pressure control and renal protection in patients with essential hypertension.
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