Lack of effect of nifedipine on erythrocyte filterability and on erythrocyte membrane lipids in healthy volunteers: A double blind cross-over study

Intracellular calcium concentration and membrane lipid composition are known to have an effect upon erythrocyte deformability. A double blind cross over trial was therefore undertaken in ten healthy volunteers to test the hypothesis that Nifedipine (30 mg/day), a calcium antagonist, affects erythrocyte filterability. The rigidity index of eryhrocytes, determined by an original initial flow rate method, remained the same throughout the Nifedipine period and the placebo period. neither plasma lipids nor erythrocyte membrane lipids were affected by nifedipine except for elythrocyte membrane phosphatidylethanolamine which might rise with Nifedipine.