Calcium and calcium antagonists in the treatment of hypertension

Calcium antagonists will be increasingly used for the treatment of hypertension, largely because of their many attractive features including a mild natriuresis, effectiveness in elderly and black patients, and lack of metabolic side effects. In addition, they may improve one of the basic defects responsible for hypertension, an increase in intracellular calcium concentration. Calcium supplements have been advocated for the treatment of hypertension, but neither the rationale for their use nor their antihypertensive effectiveness has been documented. However, they may be rational and effective in a subgroup of the hypertensive population who have mild secondary hyperparathyroidism caused by renal hypercalciuria.