Oxygenation Effects of Antihypertensive Agents in Intensive Care: A Prospective Comparative Study of Nicardipine and Urapidil.

Acute arterial hypertension within the critical care context may necessitate the administration of intravenous antihypertensive agents. Nicardipine and urapidil are notable for their application in intensive care units. Nonetheless, dihydropyridine calcium channel inhibitors (DCCIs) such as nicardipine are implicated in the impairment of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, potentially disrupting oxygenation.

Hypoxia Associated With Dihydropyridine Calcium Channel Inhibitors: A Pharmacovigilance Study in VigiBase.

Due to their negative effects on hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, dihydropyridine calcium channel inhibitors (DCCIs) can lead to hypoxia in patients with a pulmonary shunt. To date, only preclinical studies and case reports have focused on this potential adverse drug reaction. We aimed to assess the reporting association between DCCIs and hypoxia using the World Health Organization pharmacovigilance database (VigiBase).