Evaluation of causative factors in amlodipine induced pedal edema

Objective: To study the edema causing factors in hypertensive, amlodipine-induced pedal edema patients. Methods: The present was a prospective, observational study. A total of one hundred and twenty-four essential hypertensive patients, of either gender attending the outpatient department of cardiology and medicine, were recruited for this study. Out of the 124 patients, 62 were of the amlodipine-induced pedal edema [AIPE] group and other 62 patients were amlodipine-treated non-edema [ATNE] group. All the patients were receiving a dosage of amlodipine 5 mg/day. All recruited patients completed the study. The present study conducted at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal. Results: The vanillyl mandelic acid (VMA) (mean±SD) 7.08±2.3 mg/24 h and 4.9±1.7 mg/24 h in AIPE and ATNE groups respectively. Blood pressure (BP) and VMA was higher in AIPE group than the ATNE group (p<0.001). Pulse rate (PR), serum proteins, creatinine, sodium, osmolality, did not show any significant difference between the two study groups. Conclusion: In essential hypertensive patients with AIPE group presented with a higher VMA level than the ATNE group. The elevated catecholamine’s possibly the causative factor for AIPE.