Reversal of endothelin-1-induced ocular hemodynamic effects by low-dose nifedipine in humans

What Was Tested

This randomized controlled trial paper looks at Endothelin-1.

There is evidence that calcium channel blockers may be useful in patients with normal tension glaucoma and vasospastic reactions.

Who Took Part

According to the abstract, 12 subjects were involved.

By PubMed's age tags, the people studied were adults, men only.

Ocular hemodynamics in the 12 healthy subjects participating in the study was assessed by laser interferometric measurement of fundus pulsation amplitude (FPA) in the optic disc and two-dimensional scanning laser Doppler flowmetry in the optic disc.

How the Study Was Run

The design is described as randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover and parallel-group.

Because people in this Endothelin-1 study were split into groups at random, differences between the groups are less likely to reflect who happened to join each one.

Blinding on both sides kept the subjects and researchers unaware of who received Endothelin-1.

Some subjects received a placebo instead of Endothelin-1, giving a reference point.

Each person switched between Endothelin-1 and the comparison at some point, usually with a gap in between.

What Was Measured

Topics PubMed links to this paper include Calcium Channel Blockers, Endothelin-1, Eye, Laser-Doppler Flowmetry, Nifedipine and Regional Blood Flow.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of Endothelin-1 in 12 subjects.

With fewer than 40 people, it is a small study, so it is better read as an early signal for further research than as a settled answer.

The abstract goes on to report its results in about 7 sentences; this page does not restate them, so read the paper for the findings and their limits.

The publication is from 1998 (Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics), a journal based in United States.

More context: the Endothelin-1 compound page, all human trials.