Clevidipine, an Intravenous Dihydropyridine Calcium Channel Blocker, Is Safe and Effective for the Treatment of Patients With Acute Severe Hypertension

Study objective

We assess the safety and efficacy of intravenous clevidipine for treating patients with acute severe increase in blood pressure by using prespecified, non–weight-based titration dosing, with continuous maintenance infusion for 18 hours or longer.

Methods

Prospective, open-label, single-arm evaluation of patients aged 18 years or older and presenting in the emergency department or ICU with severe hypertension (systolic blood pressure >180 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure >115 mm Hg) and treated with clevidipine to achieve a predetermined, patient-specific systolic blood pressure target range. Clevidipine was initiated at 2 mg per hour and titrated as needed in doubling increments every 3 minutes to a maximum of 32 mg per hour, during 30 minutes, and then continued for a total duration of 18 to 96 hours.

Results

Study patients commonly presented with both acute hypertension and end-organ injury; 81% (102/126) had demonstrable end-organ injury at baseline. Within 30 minutes of starting clevidipine, 88.9% (104/117) of patients achieved target range. Median time to target range was 10.9 minutes. No concomitant intravenous antihypertensives were needed in 92.3% (108/117) of patients receiving 18 hours or more of clevidipine infusion. Clevidipine was well tolerated with successful transition to oral antihypertensive therapy after infusion to a defined blood pressure target in 91.3% (115/126) of patients.

Conclusion

Clevidipine, dosed in a non–weight-based manner, was safe and effective in a cohort of patients with severe hypertension at a starting dose of 2 mg per hour, followed by simple titration during 18 hours or more of continuous infusion. Patients were effectively managed via simple blood pressure cuff monitoring throughout.