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Biomedical subjects

P Sever

Publications and source records attributed to P Sever.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Management of elderly patients with sustained hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical benefits of treating hypertension in elderly patients and to derive practical guidelines regarding indications, goals, and forms of treatment. DESIGN: Review of six published randomised trials. RESULTS: Active treatment of hypertension in elderly patients was associated with significant improvements in several indices of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, particularly the incidence of fatal and non-fatal strokes. On the basis of the trial data, combined systolic and diastolic hypertension was defined as a sustained systolic pressure greater than 160 mmHg and diastolic pressure greater than 90 mmHg. There is convincing evidence that efforts should be made to reduce both systolic and diastolic pressures to below these levels in patients up to the age of 80 years. Isolated systolic hypertension was defined as a systolic pressure greater than 160 mmHg in the presence of a diastolic pressure less than 90 mmHg. Two trials reported benefit from the treatment of isolated systolic hypertension in patients up to the age of 80, and further trials are underway to support or refute this recommendation. Diuretics have an established role in the management of hypertension in elderly patients; beta adrenoceptor antagonists have given variable results, and the benefits are less impressive than with diuretic based regimens. Newer agents show promise in the treatment of elderly patients, particularly in the presence of coexisting disease, but their effects on morbidity and mortality have not been evaluated in large randomised trials. CONCLUSIONS: Diuretics rather than beta blockers are the treatment of choice for patients with uncomplicated hypertension, but combinations of drugs may be required in as many as 50% of patients.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists

Celiprolol.

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Antihypertensive Agents

Specific binding of 125I SCH 23982, a selective dopamine (D1) receptor ligand to plasma membranes derived from human kidney cortex.

Binding of the selective D-1 dopamine receptor ligand 125I SCH 23982 was studied using crude plasma membranes derived from human renal cortex. 125I SCH 23982 bound saturably to a single high affinity site (Kd = 650 pM, Bmax = 19 fmol/mg protein). Binding at 37 degrees was rapid and reversible with forward and reverse rate constants of 5.79 x 10(8) min-1 m-1 and 0.156 min-1 respectively. Antagonist and agonist competition for 125I SCH 23982 binding was also consistent with the existence of a single site possessing pharmacological characteristics similar to a D-1 dopamine receptor. It is suggested that this site may represent a D-1 (or DA1) dopamine receptor present in human renal cortex.

Benzazepines

Combination therapy with calcium-entry blockers and beta-adrenoceptor antagonists in hypertension.

The use of more than one drug to control blood pressure may be necessary in up to 50% of hypertensive patients seen in clinical practice. A rational basis for combination therapy includes 1) the use of drugs that act on different physiological systems involved in blood-pressure control and 2) using a second drug to counteract reflex responses, which may limit the effectiveness of the first, and, 3) as is less commonly practiced, the use of low doses of two drugs that act on the same or different physiological systems to avoid the side effects encountered with higher doses of single agents. The hemodynamic effects of calcium-entry blocking drugs and beta-adrenoceptor blockers are complementary and synergism might be anticipated, particularly with the dihydropyridines and beta-blockers, since the latter prevent the short-term reflex increase in sympathetic activity occurring as a consequence of vasodilation. Although there are many studies advocating the benefits of such combinations, caution is required with combinations of beta-blockers and verapamil or diltiazem because of potential cardiac depressant effects resulting from the more complex effects of these calcium-channel blockers on cardiac myo-cytes and conducting tissue. Such problems would be more likely to be encountered in patients with long-standing hypertension and in whom poor left ventricular function and coro-nary artery disease may be present.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists

Multiple risk factor evaluation in a hypertension clinic.

Hypertension is associated with abnormal lipoprotein metabolism, which may be exacerbated by some groups of antihypertensive drugs and represents an additional powerful coronary heart disease risk factor. Of our Hypertension Clinic population, 75% had a total fasting serum cholesterol greater than 5.2 mmol/l. Dietary advice and adjustment of antihypertensive therapy has achieved significant reductions in total cholesterol, serum triglycerides and body weight (14%, 18% and 4.3%, respectively) in a cohort of 65 patients reassessed over a period of 3-21 months. The reduction in cholesterol is likely to represent at least a 28% reduction in the risk of a major coronary heart disease event, even before taking account of any improvement in other coronary heart disease risk factors.

Cholesterol

Direct effect of alpha-human atrial natriuretic peptide on human vasculature in vivo and in vitro.

1. The effect of a alpha-human atrial natriuretic peptide (1-28) (ANP) on human vasculature was investigated in vivo and in vitro. Possible involvement of vascular dopamine receptors and the renin-angiotensin system in the response to ANP was also studied in vivo. 2. Forearm blood blow was measured by venous occlusion plethysmography. Isolated human blood vessels were studied using conventional organ bath techniques. 3. ANP (0.1-1 microgram/min, intra-arterially) produced a dose-dependent increase in forearm blood flow, corresponding to a 163% increase in net forearm blood flow in the study arm. This action of ANP was not antagonized by (R)-sulpiride (100 micrograms/min, intra-arterially), a selective vascular dopamine receptor antagonist, or 50 mg of oral captopril, an inhibitor of angiotensin-converting enzyme. 4. ANP (1 nmol/l-1 mumol/l) produced concentration-dependent relaxation of isolated human arteries, including brachial artery, but was without effect on isolated human saphenous vein. 5. ANP produces vasodilatation in vivo and relaxes isolated human arterial smooth muscle. This action of ANP may contribute to its reported hypotensive effects in vivo.

Adult

Action of dopamine on isolated human saphenous veins.

We have investigated the subtype of alpha-adrenoceptor responsible for the contractile effect of dopamine using isolated human saphenous vein. Lengths of saphenous vein were obtained surplus to coronary artery bypass graft operations and studied as intact rings using a conventional organ bath technique. Contractile responses to dopamine (10(-7)-10(-3) M) in the presence of propranolol, cocaine, and 17 beta oestradiol were competitively antagonised by the alpha 2-selective adrenoceptor antagonist yohimbine (10(-8)-10(-6) M) but unaffected by the alpha 1 selective adrenoceptor antagonist doxazosin (10(-8)-10(-6) M), whereas the response to norepinephrine (NE) (10(-8)-10(-3) M) was antagonised by doxazosin (10(-8)-10(-6) M), thus demonstrating the presence of alpha 1-adrenoceptors in this preparation. We conclude that the contractile effects of dopamine in isolated human saphenous vein are mediated predominantly by an action on alpha 2-adrenoceptors.

Aged

Autoradiographic localisation of NPY receptors in rabbit kidney: comparison with rat, guinea-pig and human.

In vitro labelling of neuropeptide Y binding sites with 125I-NPY was performed in rabbit kidney sections. Autoradiographic and histochemical techniques localised these binding sites to the proximal convoluted tubules and the vascular smooth muscle. In comparison, 125I-NPY binding was absent from the rat, guinea pig and human kidney. Possible physiological roles for the putative NPY receptors in rabbit renal function are discussed.

Animals

No evidence for a direct vasodilatory effect of celiprolol on human vasculature in vivo or in vitro.

Celiprolol is reported to be a new cardioselective beta blocker with novel ancillary properties including vasodilator effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether celiprolol possesses a direct vasodilatory effect on human vasculature in vivo and in vitro. We studied the in vivo effects of intra-arterial celiprolol (1-100 micrograms/min i.a.) on forearm blood flow (FBF). Forearm blood was measured by venous occlusion plethysmography. Possible vasorelaxant actions of celiprolol on human vascular smooth muscle were studied using segments of isolated human saphenous vein in vitro. The effect of celiprolol was investigated on resting tone or noradrenaline induced tone. Possible alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist effects of celiprolol were assessed using celiprolol as an antagonist of BHT933 induced constriction. Celiprolol was without significant effect on FBF and failed to relax isolated saphenous vein segments preconstricted with noradrenaline. The weak alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist action of celiprolol was demonstrable in human saphenous vein. This study does not provide evidence for a direct vasodilatory effect of celiprolol on human vasculature.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists

The action of a dopamine (DA1) receptor agonist, fenoldopam in human vasculature in vivo and in vitro.

This study was designed to investigate dopaminergic mechanisms in human vasculature using the selective vascular dopamine receptor agonist fenoldopam in vivo and in vitro. In vivo, forearm blood flow was measured plethysmographically and in vitro isolated rings of human blood vessels from a variety of sites were used for tissue bath studies. Intra-arterial fenoldopam markedly increased forearm blood flow, this effect was antagonised by (R) sulpiride, a vascular dopamine (DA1) antagonist, but not by metoclopramide, a neuronal (DA2) antagonist, or by guanethidine, an adrenergic neurone blocking agent. In vitro, fenoldopam relaxed preconstricted human renal, mesenteric and lumbar arteries, but not saphenous vein in a concentration dependent manner. (RS) sulpiride and SCH 23390 competitively antagonised this effect. These studies demonstrate the presence of a vasodilatory vascular dopamine receptor in man both in vivo and in vitro.

Adolescent

Blood pressure patterns in relation to age, weight and urinary electrolytes in three Kenyan communities.

The blood pressure patterns of three Kenyan communities have been studied: 861 members of the Luo tribe in a rural community, 281 members of the Kamba tribe in a rural community and 310 "urban" Luo living in Nairobi. The slope of linear regression of blood pressure with age was significantly different in each population: rural Luo had the smallest rise with age and urban Luo had the largest rise with age, while the Kamba tribe were in between. The differences could not be accounted for by weight. Urinary electrolyte data showed rural Luo had the lowest sodium ratios (sodium/creatinine, sodium/potassium) and the highest potassium/creatinine ratio: urban Luo had the highest sodium and lowest potassium ratios and rural Kamba had values in between. The differences in blood pressures between the two groups of the same tribe in different environments (rural and urban Luo) were far greater than those between different genetic groups (Kamba and Luo) underlining the importance of environmental factor(s) in the determination of arterial pressure. Furthermore, these data support the theory that the dietary intake of sodium and potassium are the major influential environmental factors affecting blood pressure.

Adolescent

Human vascular smooth muscle responses mediated by alpha 2 mechanisms in vivo and in vitro.

The effects of compounds with alpha 2-agonist and alpha 2-antagonist properties on human forearm blood flow and on isolated human arterial segments have been studied. The findings from these studies in vivo and in vitro did not provide evidence in support of the hypothesis that postsynaptic alpha 2-receptors mediate smooth muscle contraction in the tissues under investigation. The constriction of the forearm vascular bed in response to low intra-arterial doses of idazoxan (RX 781094), an alpha 2-antagonist, provides evidence for a physiological role for a presynaptic alpha 2 autoregulatory mechanism. The variability of the forearm vascular responses to higher doses of idazoxan highlights the pitfalls that may have misled previous authors in their interpretation of the results of similar studies. A U-shaped dose-response curve to compounds with mixed alpha 2- and alpha 1-antagonist properties may be constructed, which emphasizes the importance of the dose-dependent selectivity of these antagonists at alpha 2- and alpha 1-receptors. The effect of idazoxan on the responses of arterial segments in vitro to exogenous catecholamines was dependent on the integrity of the endothelium, and provides evidence that alpha 2-receptors may mediate release of the endothelium-derived relaxing factor.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists

Baroreflex control of blood pressure and plasma noradrenaline during exercise in essential hypertension.

1. Twelve subjects (mean age 46.3 +/- 12.5 years) with mild to moderate hypertension were studied before, during and after bicycle ergometer exercise. 2. Baroreflex sensitivity was determined by the Oxford phenylephrine method; sensitivity at rest was inversely related to intra-arterial pressure and age. Age and resting arterial pressure were not related. 3. Exercise for 5 min at 50 W and 5 min at 75 W raised the mean arterial pressure from 116.4 +/- 18.0 to 150.0 +/- 25.4 mmHg, the heart rate from 73.2 to 126.7 beats/min and the plasma noradrenaline from 541 +/- 142.7 to 1309.8 +/- 543.5 pg/ml (P less than 0.001). 4. The increase in noradrenaline during exercise and the maximum mean pressure achieved were inversely related to resting baroreflex sensitivity (r = -0.68 and -0.77 respectively). Resting values of noradrenaline were not related to baroreflex sensitivity, age, or resting blood pressure. 5. It is possible that the rise in both plasma noradrenaline and arterial blood pressure produced by exercise is controlled by the baroreceptor reflexes; these are less effective in hypertensive subjects and thus the increases in noradrenaline and arterial pressure during exercise are greater in subjects with raised blood pressure.

Adult

Defective cardiovascular reflexes and supersensitivity to sympathomimetic drugs in autonomic failure.

In 10 patients with chronic autonomic failure the clinical features and cardiovascular reflexes were correlated with the pressor responses to intravenous noradrenaline and tyramine. In all patients there was an exaggerated response to noradrenaline but a normal or only mildly exaggerated response to tyramine. Patients with lack of sinus arrhythmia and by implication baroreceptor reflex loss had greater responsiveness to pressor drugs than patients with preservation of this reflex. The responses to tyramine infusions imply that there must be sufficient noradrenaline released at defective sympathetic endings for a pressor response to occur. However, the lack of rise of plasma noradrenaline following tyramine, except in the patients with pure autonomic failure, clearly separates these responses from those of normal subjects. These results can be explained by the presence of lesions of both central and peripheral sympathetic pathways in patients with chronic autonomic failure and multiple system atrophy or Parkinsonism. The peripheral lesion, which is incomplete, may consist of replication of the receptors so causing supersensitivity with a duration of response that is little prolonged. The peripheral defect in the two patients with pure autonomic failure was found to be more complex and the prolonged response in one of these patients suggests the possibility of defective re-uptake or metabolism of noradrenaline. Clearly further study of the defects of sympathetic endings is required, including the use of other techniques such as catecholamine fluorescence. The extreme supersensitive responses underline the need for blood pressure monitoring during pressor drug studies prior to treatment, if the hazards of recumbent hypertension are to be avoided.

Adult

The pressor actions of noradrenaline, angiotensin II and saralasin in chronic autonomic failure treated with fludrocortisone.

1 Treatment of postural hypotension due to chronic autonomic failure with fludrocortisone increased the pressor sensitivity to intravenous noradrenaline. Fludrocortisone increased the blood pressure in the standing but not the lying position. These effects of fludrocortisone may be the result of increased sensitivity of vascular receptors to noradrenaline. 2 The pressor action of angiotensin II, to which patients were supersensitive, may have involved the stimulation of alpha-adrenoceptors since it was partially antagonised by phentolamine. 3 Saralasin had a marked, paradoxical, pressor effect. This may have been mediated by vascular alpha-adrenoceptors because log dose-response curves of saralasin-induced increases in systolic pressure were shifted to the right in a parallel fashion after phentolamine. 4 Fludrocortisone treatment increased the pressor sensitivity to intravenous saralasin but not to angiotensin-II.

Aged

Pressor amines and monoamine-oxidase inhibitors for treatment of postural hypotension in autonomic failure. Limitations and hazards.

The short-term effects of pressor amines were investigated in four patients with postural hypotension caused by autonomic failure. In supine patients p-tyramine alone or with a monoamine-oxidase inhibitor produced pronounced supine hypertension without abolishing the symptoms associated with a postural fall in blood-pressure. Phenylephrine or ephedrine maintained a normal blood-pressure on standing but caused supine hypertension. Thus the effects of p-tyramine with or without a monoamine-oxidase inhibitor were unpredictable and did not include relief of postural hypotension. Phenylephrine or ephedrine had some beneficial effect, but since all these drugs influence standing pressure only at the expense of pronounced supine hypertension, alternative therapy must be sought.

Aged