Calcium Channel Antagonists and Gingival Hyperplasia

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TO THE EDITOR:

We read with interest the report by Steele and colleagues [1] on calcium antagonist-induced gingival hyperplasia. Recently, we found two young adults who experienced gingival hyperplasia while receiving high-dose, extended-release nifedipine. We are curious about several other issues not specifically addressed in the report. First, was the treatment drug given in several doses daily as standard release, or was the extended-release preparation used? If the extended-release methods were used, were plasma levels checked? Could the delivery system have affected the prevalence of hyperplasia? Second, how was drug compliance addressed? Was this a confounding issue? Third, were there any differences in the amounts of hyperplasia noted at lower levels of treatment drug compared with higher levels? Finally, have any age, sex, or race differences been reported for patients with hyperplasia compared with those without? We believe these are interesting issues that must be addressed to help clarify this interesting drug side effect.

David E. Mathis

Allison P. Scheetz

The Editors welcome submissions for possible publication in the Letters section. Authors of letters should:

•Include no more than 300 words of text, three authors, and five references

•Type with double-spacing

•Send three copies of the letter, an authors' form signed by all authors, and a cover letter describing any conflicts of interest related to the contents of the letter.

Letters commenting on an Annals article will be considered if they are received within 6 weeks of the time the article was published. Only some of the letters received can be published. Published letters are edited and may be shortened; tables and figures are included only selectively. Authors will be notified that the letter has been received. If the letter is selected for publication, the author will be notified about 3 weeks before the publication date. Unpublished letters cannot be returned.

Annals welcomes electronically submitted letters.

REFERENCE

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