Nifedipine-induced gingival hyperplasia
AA Shaftic,
LL Widdup,
MA Abate,
and
AI Jacknowitz
Gingival hyperplasia, a condition characterized by increased amounts of gingival connective tissue, has most commonly been observed in patients receiving phenytoin, but has also been noted in patients receiving cyclosporine and, as in this case report, nifedipine. Patients receiving nifedipine should be advised to practice good oral hygiene to lessen the possibility of hyperplasia occurring. If gingival hyperplasia develops in a patient taking nifedipine, the drug should be suspected as being responsible and discontinued. Limited data suggest verapamil can be substituted for nifedipine in these patients with improvement of the hyperplasia.
