Lower Incidence of Liver Graft Rejection in Patients on Diltiazem Plus Cyclosporine Therapy

Combination use of immune complexes and a Ca2+ channel blocker azelnidipine enhances interleukin-12 p40 secretion without T helper type 17 cytokine secretion in human monocyte-derived dendritic cells

“…The mechanism has been explained by the finding that diltiazem increases the blood concentration of CyA by inhibiting CyA metabolism in hepatic cytochrome P450 enzymes [45][46][47]. However, our results showed that a Ca2 + channel blocker enhanced IL-12 p40 secretion from MDDCs.…”

Diltiazem and mibefradil increase the plasma concentrations and greatly enhance the adrenal-suppressant effect of oral methylprednisolone

“…[19][20][21] Interestingly, diltiazem and verapamil can also improve the outcome of organ transplant patients treated with methylprednisolone. [22][23][24][25] In view of the present findings, the favorable effects of diltiazem may be partly explained by a 2-to 3-fold increase in the AUC of methylprednisolone. On the other hand, it should be remembered that if diltiazem is used concomitantly with methylprednisolone, even low doses of methylprednisolone may lead to adrenal suppression because the relative increase in the nighttime concentrations of methylprednisolone (ie, concentrations between 12 and 23 hours; Fig 1) was greater than that in the total AUC.…”

Influence of cytomegalovirus infection in the development of cardiac allograft vasculopathy after heart transplantation

“…31 Previous studies have reported that diltiazem slows the development of CAV 32 and reduces the incidence of acute rejection. [33][34][35] Moreover, studies with heterotopic HTx models have shown that diltiazem exerts immunosuppressive and immunomodulating effects. Transmembrane calcium movement plays a critical role in lymphocyte function, and numerous investigators have demonstrated that diltiazem inhibits lymphocyte functions and depresses the immune response.…”