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Biomedical subjects

F Fallo

Publications and source records attributed to F Fallo.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Aldosterone and pressor responses to angiotensin II in primary hyperparathyroidism.

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of hypercalcaemia due to primary hyperparathyroidism on the pressor and aldosterone responses to angiotensin II (Ang II) infusion. Five patients with hyperparathyroidism were studied, before and after parathyroidectomy, and were compared with five normal subjects. After 30 min of equilibration, Asp1-Val5 Ang II was infused in all subjects at stepwise increasing dose rates of 2 and 4 ng/kg per min for 30 min each. In the hyperparathyroid patients the baseline levels of plasma parathyroid hormone and calcium were significantly higher than in the controls, and returned to normal after the parathyroidectomy; plasma aldosterone and renin activity were normal both before and after the parathyroidectomy. Two hyperparathyroid patients had high blood pressure levels, which were normalized after surgery. The increase in the aldosterone response from baseline at each time point of the Ang II infusion was greater in the hyperparathyroid patients before than after the operation (P less than 0.05), and greater than in the normals (P less than 0.05). No difference in the increased response of systolic or diastolic blood pressure was observed between the hyperparathyroid patients, either before or after the parathyroidectomy, and the normal subjects. High levels of extracellular calcium or parathyroid hormone, or both, might play a primary role in the aldosterone hyper-responsiveness to Ang II in the hyperparathyroid patients. The similar pressor response to Ang II in hyperparathyroid patients and the normal subjects suggests that hypercalcaemia does not potentiate the vasoconstrictive action of Ang II.

Adult↗

Plasma ouabain-like activity in essential hypertensive patients and in subjects with primary aldosteronism.

Plasma from 37 essential hypertensive patients, from 11 subjects with primary aldosteronism and from 23 normotensive subjects was tested for ouabain-like activity. Despite a very substantial overlap, hypertensive patients (both essential and secondary) showed significantly higher levels of a ouabain-like plasma factor compared to normotensive controls. No substantial differences could be detected, however, between the two forms of hypertension; in particular, no significant changes were observed in the low-PRA subgroup. Our results are hardly compatible with the hypothesis that this substance may be of crucial importance in the development either of essential hypertension or of primary aldosteronism.

Adolescent↗

Effects of naloxone on adrenal cortex regulation in patients with primary aldosteronism.

Excess production of proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived peptides with aldosterone-stimulating activity has been suggested to play a pathogenetic role in idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (IHA). To further investigate this issue, the opiate receptor antagonist naloxone was administered to 14 patients with primary aldosteronism, 6 with an aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) and 8 with IHA. Clinical and hormonal effects of iv administration of naloxone (10 mg as a bolus) were compared with those obtained in 8 normal subjects. In normals as well as in APA and IHA patients, naloxone caused a significant increase in plasma cortisol, and no change in ACTH, plasma renin activity (PRA) and aldosterone levels. All subjects were retested after 2 mg dexamethasone. ACTH and cortisol were reduced and PRA was unchanged in all groups, without modifications after naloxone. Baseline aldosterone showed no significant changes in all groups. While normal subjects and APA failed to show any aldosterone response to naloxone after dexamethasone, IHA patients demonstrated a significant decrease. beta-endorphin concentrations were in the normal range before and after dexamethasone. In conclusion, naloxone may have a direct action upon adrenal zona fasciculata increasing the cortisol responsiveness to physiological levels of ACTH in either normals or APA and IHA patients. The decrease of aldosterone induced by naloxone in IHA may be due to an intraadrenal opioid control of zona glomerulosa in this disorder.

Adenoma↗

Effect of naloxone on the adrenal cortex in primary aldosteronism.

Endogenous opioids have been suggested to play a pathogenetic role in idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (IHA). To investigate this issue, the opiate antagonist naloxone was administered to 8 normals and 14 patients with primary aldosteronism, 6 with an aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) and 8 with IHA. In normals, APA, and IHA, naloxone caused a significant increase in plasma cortisol and no change in ACTH, renin activity (PRA), and aldosterone levels. All subjects were retested after dexamethasone 2 mg. ACTH and cortisol were reduced and PRA was unchanged without modifications after naloxone. Baseline aldosterone was unaltered in all. While normals and APA failed to show any aldosterone response to naloxone under dexamethasone, IHA patients demonstrated a significant decrease. beta-Endorphin concentrations were in the normal range before and after dexamethasone. In normals as well as in APA and IHA, naloxone may act directly on the adrenal cortex increasing zona fasciculata responsiveness to physiological levels of ACTH. The decrease of aldosterone induced by naloxone in IHA under dexamethasone may be due to an intra-adrenal opioid control of zona glomerulosa in this disorder.

Adenoma↗

Cardiovascular and hormonal responses to DDAVP before and after beta-blockade in patients with mild essential hypertension.

The aim of this study was to assess the cardiovascular and hormonal responses to 1-desamino-8,D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP) in hypertensive patients before and after non-selective beta-blockade. We infused DDAVP at 400 ng/kg body weight for 10 min in nine subjects with mild essential hypertension before and 14 days after administration of nadolol at 80 mg/day. Blood pressure and heart rate were recorded, and blood was drawn at 0, 30 and 60 min for measurement of plasma renin activity, aldosterone, cortisol, noradrenaline, adrenaline and dopamine. Before the administration of nadolol, DDAVP induced a significant decrease in blood pressure, and significant increases in the heart rate, plasma renin activity, cortisol and noradrenaline; there were no changes in adrenaline or dopamine. After the administration of nadolol, baseline noradrenaline was significantly increased, while cortisol, adrenaline and dopamine remained unchanged. A second infusion of DDAVP did not significantly alter blood pressure, [corrected] heart rate, noradrenaline, adrenaline or dopamine, but plasma renin activity, aldosterone and cortisol still showed a significant increase. The blunted hypotensive effect of DDAVP after the administration of nadolol may be aspecific, due to lower basal blood pressure levels, or may indicate a mechanism of action common to both drugs. A similar post-DDAVP increase before and after beta-blockade suggests that the drug has a direct effect on the renin-secretory apparatus. An indirect effect, mediated by changes in intrarenal haemodynamics or by other factors with renin-stimulating activity, e.g. tissue plasminogen activator, can also be hypothesized.

Adult↗

Dexamethasone-suppressible hyperaldosteronism: pathophysiology, clinical aspects, and new insights into the pathogenesis.

A profile of dexamethasone-suppressible hyperaldosteronism (DSH), a variant of primary aldosteronism, is drawn by reviewing its pathophysiological and clinical aspects. Genetic studies show no HLA linkage and point to an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance, suggesting that the prevalence of this disease has been underestimated in the past. Hypertension, hypokalemia, suppressed renin, and high aldosterone values characterize DSH in the basal state, similar to the other forms of primary aldosteronism, i.e., aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) or bilateral idiopathic adrenal hyperplasia (IAH). Biochemically DSH and APA can be differentiated from IAH since in both aldosterone does not respond to upright posture, to angiotensin II infusion, and to angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) captopril. In contrast, morphologically DSH is similar to IAH, since neither macroscopic nor histologic examinations of the adrenals give evidence of any unilateral abnormality. However, DSH is differentiated from APA and IAH by the hyperresponsiveness of aldosterone to acute ACTH administration as well as by the failure of aldosterone to escape from prolonged ACTH stimulation. The final diagnosis of DSH rests upon the prompt reversal of the features of mineralocorticoid excess by glucocorticoid therapy. In some cases hypertension is unresponsive to dexamethasone and needs alternative treatment. The main pathogenetic hypotheses point to a pituitary and/or an adrenal abnormality, but the intrinsic nature of the disease remains to be elucidated.

Adenoma↗

Alpha-h-ANP injection in normals, low renin hypertension and primary aldosteronism.

Atrial natriuretic peptide, a hormone secreted by the heart, is involved in salt and fluid homeostasis and also exerts an inhibitory effect on aldosterone production in vitro. In order to elucidate if this effect is also present in man, 6 normal volunteers, 5 low renin hypertensive patients (LRH) and 7 patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) have received 100 micrograms of alpha-h-Anp as bolus i.v. (The decrease in blood pressure was mild and transient in all groups, whereas a marked diuretic effect was observed in all hypertensives even in PA where high levels of endogenous ANP have been found. In normals we observed a significant decrease of plasma aldosterone values while in PA and LRH this effect was not evident. This phenomenon associated with a greater natriuretic effect in LRH and PA, as compared with normals, demonstrates the lack of the correlation between ANP-induced diuresis and aldosterone inhibiting properties.

Adult↗

Effects of naloxone on the pituitary-adrenal axis in patients with dexamethasone-suppressible hyperaldosteronism.

Endogenous opioids may normally modulate the function of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis. We investigated whether opioid peptides play any role on aldosterone secretion in dexamethasone-suppressible hyperaldosteronism (DSH). Clinical and hormonal effects of i.v. administration of naloxone (10 mg as a bolus) in two siblings affected by this disease and in eight normal volunteers were studied. In normals, naloxone caused a significant increase in plasma cortisol compared with placebo, an insignificant increase in ACTH and no change in plasma renin activity (PRA) and aldosterone level. In DSH patients there was a slight increase in plasma cortisol, no change in PRA and a marked rise of aldosterone level. In five normals retested after dexamethasone 2 mg, baseline ACTH and cortisol were reduced and no response to naloxone was observed compared to naloxone alone. After dexamethasone, aldosterone levels were suppressed in DSH patients and unchanged in normals, and did not respond to naloxone in any case. In conclusion, naloxone may increase the responsiveness of adrenal zona fasciculata to physiological levels of ACTH in normals, since the slight increase in ACTH seems inadequate to explain per se the marked cortisol elevation. The marked aldosterone rise after naloxone indicates an underlying adrenal rather than pituitary abnormality in patients with DSH, and possibly implicates endogenous opioids.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

Effect of alpha-human atrial natriuretic peptide in low renin essential hypertension and primary aldosteronism.

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), besides its diuretic and antihypertensive effects, exhibits an "in vitro" inhibitory action on aldosterone. In order to elucidate if these effects are present also "in vivo", we injected 100 micrograms of alpha-human ANP as a bolus in normal volunteers, low renin essential hypertensive subjects (LRH) and in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA). A transient hypotensive effect was seen in all patients, without significant variations of heart rate. The diuretic and saluretic effects of ANP were greater in hypertensive subjects, even in PA where endogenous ANP levels are known to be elevated. Plasma aldosterone values decreased significantly only in normal volunteers. In conclusion, in LRH and PA renal effects of ANP are not diminished, although its aldosterone-inhibiting properties are less evident than in normals.

Adolescent↗

Clotting changes in borderline hypertension.

Coagulation factors evaluated in a group of patients with borderline hypertension. The following tests were carried out: prothrombin time (PT) and partial thromboplastin time (PTT), Factor VIII coagulant activity, Factor VIII antigen and Factor VIII ristocetin cofactor, Factor XII and Factor XI activities. These tests were selected for their relationship to the contact coagulative activation near the vascular wall. Comparing the results with those of normal controls, Factor VIII coagulant activity, Factor XII and PTT levels were significantly higher. Other tests were all within normal limits in both groups. High Factor VIII and Factor XII levels associated with PTT shortening suggest that an increased synthesis and/or release of these coagulation factors was present in our patients. Activated coagulation seems to be present in borderline hypertension before the appearance of clinical signs of vascular lesions.

Adult↗

Erythrocyte Na+-Li+ countertransport and blood viscosity in arterial hypertension.

The aim of this study was to evaluate together the main hemorheologic parameters and one of the transmembrane ion transport systems in erythrocytes of subjects with normal and elevated blood pressure. Three sex-, age-, and weight-matched groups consisting of 15 normotensive subjects (NT) with no parental hypertension, 15 patients with essential hypertension (EH) at stage 1-II WHO, and eight patients with secondary hypertension (Sec.H), respectively, were studied. Red blood cell Na+-Li+ countertransport (CTT), blood viscosity (eta B) at shear rates of 230 X S-1, 115 X S-1, and 46 S-1 and plasma viscosity (eta P) at shear rate of 46 X S-1 were measured. Plasma proteins and fibrinogen were also evaluated. CTT was higher in EH than in NT (P less than 0.01), while no significant difference was found between NT and Sec. H patients. eta B at 115 X S-1 and 46 X S-1 was higher in EH, but not in Sec. H, than in NT patients (P less than 0.05). No difference in eta P, plasma proteins and fibrinogen levels was observed between EH and NT. Elevated eta B and/or CTT may indicate a structural alteration in the erythrocyte membrane of some essential hypertensive patients. This is consistent with the hypothesis that a widespread membrane disorder is involved in the pathogenesis of primary hypertension.

Adolescent↗

Percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty in the treatment of renovascular hypertension in children.

We report five young patients who underwent percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) for the treatment of hypertension related to renal artery stenosis. Four had fibromuscular disease and one had probable Takajasu's arteritis; two had solitary kidneys. Following PTRA, a prompt decrease in blood pressure was observed in all patients. Further, four of five patients long after PTRA remained normotensive, and in all patients plasma renin levels declined. These results indicate that PTRA can be a safe and effective alternative to surgery in the treatment of renovascular hypertension in childhood.

Adult↗

Captopril-induced changes on active and inactive renin in a patient with factor XII congenital deficiency.

A linkage between prorenin, renin, and intrinsic coagulation systems has been suggested recently. We studied the behavior of renin, prorenin, and kallikrein in a patient affected by congenital factor XII deficiency. Captopril test, upright posture, and furosemide administration provoked in our patients changes of renin and prorenin similar to those found in normal and hypertensive subjects. Unchanged kallikrein levels confirmed that no interaction between prorenin activation and factor XII-kallikrein system appears to be present.

Adult↗

Resistance to captopril in hypertension of coarctation of the aorta.

Two patients with hypertension due to coarctation of the aorta were treated for 12 weeks with captopril at increasing doses. After an immediate response, resistance developed to captopril, which was associated with restoration of initially elevated renin and plasma aldosterone levels. Lack of hypertension control may be related to long-term reappearance of mechanisms which lead to excessive renin stimulation.

Adult↗

A new family with dexamethasone-suppressible hyperaldosteronism: aldosterone unresponsiveness to angiotensin II.

A family with nine siblings in which three siblings have been shown to have dexamethasone-suppressible hyperaldosteronism was studied. All three showed no significant changes of plasma aldosterone during angiotensin II infusion at incremental rates under baseline conditions. After dexamethasone administration (2 mg/d for 4 weeks) plasma renin activity (PRA) rose to normal-supranormal range, while plasma and urinary aldosterone were maintained at low-normal levels. No restoration of aldosterone response to angiotensin II was observed on dexamethasone. Two other siblings were found to be hypertensive with normal baseline data; however, both showed plasma aldosterone hyperresponsiveness to ACTH. In the four normotensive siblings aldosterone response to ACTH was normal. The family pedigree was consistent with autosomal dominant transmission of the disorder. HLA typing showed haplotype A3 Bw35 in all five hypertensive sibs and in one normotensive. In conclusion, low aldosterone compared to PRA, and plasma aldosterone unresponsiveness to angiotensin II infusion before and during dexamethasone, show functional impairment, at least temporary, of the zona glomerulosa. These findings support the hypothesis that aldosterone may be derived from the zona fasciculata in this disorder.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗