[Effects of calcium channel blockers in atherosclerosis and cardiovascular event and oxidative vascular damage].

Ca antagonists are relevant therapeutic tool for patients with hypertension. The effects of Ca antagonists against oxidative vascular damage and followed atherosclerosis were elucidated in various experimental model accompanied with the vasodilatative effects of Ca antagonists by blocking the L-type Ca channel. The beneficial effects of Ca antagonists in cardiovascular disease have been demonstrated in several clinical trials, as we demonstrated the beneficial effect of Ca antagonist in the incidence of cardiovascular event in Japanese patients with coronary disease. In patient with diabetes mellitus, the cardiovascular disease was also caused by the mechanism involved with the increase in oxidative stress in blood vessels and related factors such as advanced glycation endproducts, protein kinase C and insulin resistance. The beneficial effects of Ca antagonists in cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes mellitus have been demonstrated in several clinical trials, may be dependent on the effect of Ca antagonist against the oxidative stress in the setting of hyperglycemia.