Publication:

Amlodipine induced gingival hyperplasia: a case report

A 55-year-old South Indian male with hypertension, benign prostate hypertrophy and old myocardial infarction was admitted with painless inflammation of gingiva. He received amlodipine 5 mg once a day, atorvastatin 10 mg once a day, aspirin 75 mg once a day and rabeprazole 20 mg once a day for past 5 months. The patient in the case presented had gingival hyperplasia as a result of managing his hypertension with amlodipine. Calcium channel blockers are one of the most widely used anti-hypertensive and are known for causing gingival hyperplasia as an adverse effect. It may develop as a result of two inflammatory and non-inflammatory pathways. The problem completely resolved when the offending drug was withdrawn and he was switched over to an angiotensin receptor blocker. The present case is interesting as it occurred with a low dose of amlodipine (5 mg) and appeared on administration for 5 months. This paper aims at drawing the attention of clinicians toward adverse effects of amlodipine along with a brief review on the management of hyperplasia without surgical interventions.