17 patients with isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) and 8 with diastolic hypertension (DH) were treated with 10 mg of nifedipine sublingually. In ISH group the blood pressure decreased on the average from 180.2/87.4 to 166.2/84.2, 161.9/82.6, 163.4/83.7 mmHg after 5.20 and 60 minutes, while in DH group the blood pressure decreased on the average from 139.2/102.0 to 138.0/100.0, 137.6/97.6, 134.4/97.2 mmHg. With pulsed Doppler echocardiography, we found that early diastolic time-velocity integral increased (P less than 0.001) and E time prolonged (P less than 0.01) after 20 and 60 minutes in ISH group; and 1/3 filling fraction increased (P less than 0.05) after 20 minutes in DH group. With M-mode echocardiography we found that cardiac index and ejection fraction were improved in both groups. No obvious side effects were noted. From above-mentioned findings we are of the opinion that sublingual nifedipine is effective in reducing blood pressure and improving left ventricular performance especially in ISH patients.