Biomedical subjects

I Eide

Publications and source records attributed to I Eide.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1995

Mental stress increases glucose uptake during hyperinsulinemia: associations with sympathetic and cardiovascular responsiveness.

Infusion of epinephrine and norepinephrine reduces insulin-mediated glucose disposal, ie, induces insulin resistance. Mental stress increases concentrations of both plasma catecholamines. However, the effect of acute mental stress on insulin-mediated glucose uptake has not been examined. We observed in pilot studies that a mental stress test (MST) during a euglycemic glucose clamp decreased blood glucose concentration. In a prospective study, euglycemic hyperinsulinemia was established during 120 minutes of glucose clamping; the subjects (N = 74) then underwent 5 minutes of intense mental arithmetics with infusion rates of glucose and insulin kept constant. During MST, plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine increased (by 0.23 +/- 0.02 and 0.50 +/- 0.05 nmol/L) together with blood pressure ([BP] by 18 +/- 8/9 +/- 1 mm Hg) and heart rate ([HR] by 21 +/- 1 beats per minute), with P less than .0001 for all changes. During mental stress, blood glucose concentration decreased by 0.4 +/- 0.1 mmol/L (P < .0001), followed by full recovery after another 10 minutes. Serum insulin was unchanged, indicating an acute but transient increase in glucose uptake. This finding was unrelated to age, sex, body mass, and BP status. Fifty-nine subjects with a decrease in glucose concentrations during MST were characterized by accentuated epinephrine response to MST (a change of 0.25 +/- 0.03 v 0.12 +/- 0.02 nmol/L, P = .001), increase in systolic BP (by 20 +/- 2 v 10 +/- 3 mm Hg, P = .008), and increase in HR (by 23 +/- 2 v 15 +/- 2 beats per minute, P = .008) as compared with 15 subjects with unchanged/increased glucose concentration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Insulin sensitivity, sympathetic activity, and cardiovascular reactivity in young men.

The present study was undertaken to examine the relationships between insulin sensitivity, blood pressure (BP), and cardiovascular reactivity, and to assess sympathetic nervous system influence. Insulin sensitivity (GDR/I; euglycemic glucose clamp technique) was related to BP and heart rate (HR) in different situations in 40 healthy young men: in the laboratory, during a mental arithmetic stress test, and during baseline conditions at home. GDR/I correlated with supine diastolic BP in the laboratory and with maximum diastolic BP during mental stress (r = -0.46, P = .003; r = -0.62, P = .0001, respectively), but not so strongly with diastolic BP measured at home (r = -0.29, P = .09). Diastolic BP during stress and body mass index were the only independent explanatory variables of GDR/I in multiple regression analysis (multiple R = 0.71, R2 = 0.50, P < .0001). GDR/I and systolic BP were not significantly correlated at any time. GDR/I correlated negatively with HR in the laboratory and with maximum HR during mental stress, but not with HR at home. Maximum plasma epinephrine during stress correlated with stress BP and HR (r = 0.53, P = .001; r = 0.70, P < .0001, respectively) and negatively with GDR/I (r = -0.36, P < .05). In the present study, GDR/I is related to diastolic but not to systolic BP, and more closely correlated to diastolic BP and HR measured during mental stress than to diastolic BP and HR during baseline conditions at home.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Uptake, distribution, and formation of hemoglobin and DNA adducts after inhalation of C2-C8 1-alkenes (olefins) in the rat.

Absorption, distribution, elimination and hemoglobin and DNA adduct formation were studied in the rat after inhalation of individual C2-C8 1-alkenes (olefins) at 300 p.p.m., 12 h a day for 3 consecutive days. The concentrations of olefins were measured in blood, lung, brain, liver, kidney and perirenal fat immediately after each exposure and 12 h after the third exposure. DNA adducts were determined by 32P-postlabeling in liver, and lymphocytes sampled immediately after the last exposure. Hemoglobin adducts were determined by GC/MS and GC/MS/MS in erythrocytes sampled immediately after the last exposure. Concentrations of 1-alkenes in blood and organs reached a steady-state level after the first 12 h exposure, and the concentrations 12 h after the last exposure were generally low, except in fat tissue. Concentrations of 1-alkenes in blood and the different tissues increased with increasing number of carbon atoms. In contrast, levels of hemoglobin and DNA adducts decreased with increasing number of carbon atoms. The decrease was most pronounced from C2 to C3. The decrease through the whole homologous series from ethene to 1-octene was most pronounced for hemoglobin adducts followed by the DNA adducts in the lymphocytes. All 1-alkenes caused formation of detectable levels of hemoglobin and DNA adducts, although the levels of hemoglobin adducts after C4-C8 exposure were low. The project illustrates important aspects of the use of biomarkers. The structure-activity approach gives possibilities for extrapolation within the homologous series.

Absorption↗

PubMed1995

The glucose clamp procedure activates the sympathetic nervous system even in the absence of hyperinsulinemia.

There is a well established connection between hyperinsulinemia and hypertension, and activation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) by insulin has been proposed as one mechanism. In short term infusion studies, hyperinsulinemia during the euglycemic glucose clamp examination is associated with increased norepinephrine concentration. However, many of the studies lack sufficient control groups. The euglycemic glucose clamp examination could possibly, by discomfort from iv cannulas, the use of heating cuffs, and prolonged immobilization, by itself increase SNS activity. To examine this, we included nine controls, who had saline instead of glucose and insulin infused iv, among other healthy young men (n = 50) who underwent the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic glucose clamp. During hyperinsulinemic clamp, the plasma norepinephrine concentration increased from 0.87 +/- 0.06 to 1.06 +/- 0.05 nmol/L; in the control study, it increased from 0.99 +/- 0.14 to 1.21 +/- 0.11 nmol/L, a significant treatment effect (P < 0.001, by repeated measures analysis of variance), but no group x treatment effect (P = 0.17), i.e. there was no difference between the groups. There were no significant changes in systolic or diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, or plasma epinephrine concentration during the clamps, nor any differences between the groups. We conclude that the increase in plasma norepinephrine concentration observed during an euglycemic glucose clamp examination may be attributed to the procedure itself, and that the inclusion of a control group is mandatory when assessing SNS activity.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Evaluation and quality-of-life assessment of amlodipine and enalapril in patients with hypertension.

In this multicentre, double-blind trial in 461 patients with essential hypertension, amlodipine (5-10 mg once daily) and enalapril (10-40 mg once daily) were compared in terms of quality of life, efficacy and tolerability after 1 year of treatment (part 1). In part 2, 177 patients successfully treated with amlodipine in part 1 continued in an open evaluation of efficacy and safety of antihypertensive treatment with amlodipine for a further 2 years. In part 1, both drugs were similarly effective in lowering blood pressure (BP) (although significantly more enalapril patients required a diuretic) while maintaining quality of life. Apart from class-typical effects, such as oedema for calcium antagonists and cough for angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, both drugs were equally well tolerated, with few adverse effects of clinical significance. Only a few patients (eight amlodipine (4%), nine enalapril (4%)) were withdrawn from the trial because of drug-related adverse events, demonstrating that the tolerability was good. Neutral to slightly beneficial effects were found in blood lipid concentrations after treatment with amlodipine. The BP reduction seen in the amlodipine patients after part 1 was maintained during part 2. Also, blood lipids and safety variables remained virtually constant. It is concluded that, at similar BP reduction, quality of life is equally well maintained on amlodipine and enalapril therapy. Thus, amlodipine compares favourably with enalapril as an effective and well-tolerated anti-hypertensive agent over the first year. Additionally, amlodipine patients evaluated over a 2-year extension maintained good BP control and the drug was well tolerated.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

[Treatment of hypertension in 1994. Comments on the 1993 guidelines of the Norwegian Society of General Practitioners concerning the treatment program for hypertension].

An absolute reduction of 2.5% per year in cardiovascular risk among persons treated with drugs indicates that elderly persons should also be treated for hypertension in this way. Today, ambulatory assessments of blood pressure and detection of organ damage using both traditional and new methods (echo-cardiography, microalbuminuria) are useful in identifying high-risk patients in need of treatment. Non-pharmacological treatment of hypertension (changes in lifestyle) has not been proved to have any effect on the clinical manifestations of high blood pressure, and is only a supplement to treatment with drugs. The assertion that diastolic pressure should not be brought down to below 85 mm Hg is based on small numbers and retrospective data. It is our impression that the Society of General Practitioners emphasizes economic savings to an extent that tends to conflict with current scientific knowledge.

Family Practice↗

PubMed1994

The role of the adrenal medulla in cardiovascular responses to hypertonic saline in haemorrhaged conscious rats.

The aim of this study was to determine if the adrenal medulla plays a role in mediating haemodynamic effects of hypertonic saline (HTS) resuscitation during haemorrhagic hypotension in conscious rats. Wistar-Kyoto rats were either adrenomedullectomized (ADMX, n = 11) or sham-operated (SHAM, n = 10) and implanted with intravascular catheters. Pre-haemorrhage resting mean arterial pressure (MAP) was lower in the ADMX than in the SHAM group. Haemorrhage was performed by withdrawal of blood through the venous catheter, and a MAP of 50 mmHg was maintained for 1 h by further withdrawal when necessary. Both groups responded to haemorrhage with marked bradycardia. Plasma adrenaline (A) rose 10-fold in response to hypotension in the SHAM group, while remaining at pre-haemorrhage levels in the ADMX group, indicating successful adrenal demedullation. Infusion of 2.0 ml kg-1 HTS (NaCl 8.0 mg ml-1 i.v.) produced an immediate increase in MAP and heart rate (HR) in both groups, to pre-haemorrhage values or higher. Plasma noradrenaline (NA) increased in both groups after HTS, while the high levels of A in the SHAM group slowly returned toward baseline. Plasma glucose and rate of haemodilution was higher in the SHAM group during and after hypotension. The maintenance of MAP above 60 mmHg was less effective in the SHAM group during the first 2 h after HTS, but after 24 h, prehaemorrhage MAP was established in both groups. In conclusion, the adrenal medulla does not play a major role in the response to HTS resuscitation.

Adrenal Medulla↗

PubMed1994

Left ventricular mass and cardiovascular reactivity in young men.

The relation between left ventricular wall thickness and mass, arterial plasma catecholamines, and blood pressure at rest and during a mental arithmetic challenge and a cold pressor test was examined in 69 healthy men 19 years of age. The subjects were recruited from the 1st (n = 21), 50th (n = 26), and 99th (n = 22) percentiles in mean blood pressure. All underwent echocardiography to determine mean wall thickness and left ventricular mass. Continuous intra-arterial blood pressure, electrocardiogram, and arterial sampling of plasma catecholamines were performed after 30 minutes of supine rest, during a 5-minute mental arithmetic challenge, and during a 1-minute cold pressor test. Stepwise multiple-regression analyses considering mean wall thickness and left ventricular mass as the dependent variables were applied. Intra-arterial systolic blood pressure (r = .54, P < .0001) and arterial plasma epinephrine (r = .31, P = .009) after 30 minutes of supine rest were the only independent explanatory variables of mean wall thickness (multiple R2 = .33, P < .0001). Blood pressure at screening and during mental stress and cold pressor tests were not independent explanatory variables. The present study suggests that resting arterial blood pressure and plasma epinephrine may be of importance for development of left ventricular hypertrophy.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

The effect of angiotensin II receptor blockade on insulin sensitivity and sympathetic nervous system activity in primary hypertension.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of Losartan (NK-954, DuP-753), a new selective angiotensin II receptor antagonist, on insulin sensitivity and sympathetic nervous system activity in patients with severe primary hypertension. Five patients with a record of diastolic blood pressure (DBP) > or = 115 mmHg, currently either untreated or with DBP > 95 mmHg on antihypertensive treatment, were examined in an open study with the euglycemic glucose clamp examination before and after being treated with Losartan for an average of 6 weeks. The glucose disposal rate increased from 6.2 +/- 2.6 to 7.9 +/- 2.6 mg/kg x min (27%, p < 0.05) during treatment with Losartan. The insulin sensitivity index (glucose disposal rate divided by mean insulin concentration during clamp) increased from 7.7 +/- 4.5 to 10.1 +/- 4.1 arbitrary units (30%, p < 0.05). Plasma noradrenaline decreased from 1.87 +/- 0.53 to 1.11 +/- 0.13 nmol/l (40%, p < 0.05), while plasma adrenaline was unchanged (0.23 +/- 0.10 vs. 0.22 +/- 0.11 nmol/l, n.s.). Mean blood pressure decreased from 132 +/- 10 to 119 +/- 13 mmHg (p < 0.05) and heart rate was unchanged during treatment with Losartan. Thus, antihypertensive treatment with the new selective angiotensin II receptor antagonist Losartan seems to improve insulin sensitivity. A decrease in plasma noradrenaline on Losartan suggests a sympathicolytic effect which together with vasodilation may explain the fall in blood pressure and the improvement in insulin sensitivity.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

A long-term, double-blind, comparative study on quality of life during treatment with amlodipine or enalapril in mild or moderate hypertensive patients: a multicentre study.

The efficacy, tolerability and impact on quality of life of amlodipine and enalapril were compared in a multicentre, double-blind, general practice study in 461 mild and moderate hypertensives over a 50-week active treatment period. Amlodipine (5-10 mg, once daily) and enalapril (10-40 mg, once daily) were found to be similarly effective in lowering blood pressure while not adversely affecting quality-of-life parameters. However, 20% of the enalapril group compared with 11% of the amlodipine group required the addition of hydrochlorothiazide for blood pressure control (P < 0.01). Diastolic blood pressure was normalised or reduced by 10 mmHg in 204 (90%) patients on amlodipine and in 190 (85%) patients on enalapril. Side-effects were, in general, mild or of little clinical significance. The major side-effects recorded were class-typical of ACE inhibitors and calcium antagonists, namely cough (enalapril) and oedema (amlodipine), respectively. Tolerability was very good, with only 17 patients (8 amlodipine, 4%; 9 enalapril, 4%) being withdrawn from the study due to side-effects definitely related to treatment. Amlodipine monotherapy produced a slightly beneficial effect on blood lipid concentration, and both drugs reduced the calculated 10-year risk of coronary heart disease. It was concluded that the calcium antagonist amlodipine compared favourably with the ACE inhibitor enalapril in terms of antihypertensive efficacy, tolerability and impact on quality of life.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

[White coat hypertension and blood pressure measurement at home].

"White-coat" hypertension, i.e. high readings in the clinic but normal readings at home, has been demonstrated in 21-58% of hypertensive subjects without end-organ injury. The condition can be diagnosed by means of home blood pressure monitoring, which should therefore be used as a supplement to monitoring by the physician. Owing to the low blood pressure readings at home, these patients should not be treated with drugs. In the event of anti-hypertensive treatment, home blood pressure monitoring is useful in helping to decide the minimum required dose, thus reducing risk of side effects, and in monitoring the response to therapy. White coat hypertension is associated with overweight, lipid abnormalities and high fasting insulin. Owing to the high risk of developing sustained hypertension, the patients' blood pressure must be measured regularly both at the clinic and at home.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

[Does antihypertensive treatment with amlodipine or enalapril affect quality of life? A multicenter study in general practice].

In this multicentre trial in general practice the effect of one year of therapy with amlodipine or enalapril on quality of life and blood pressure was studied in 461 hypertensive patients. Quality of life was evaluated by means of a questionnaire administered on five occasions during the study. A total of 125 questions were distributed between psychological general well-being, own perception of health, social relations, sexual and cognitive functioning, and a combined index for frequency and intensity of symptoms. Both drugs were equally effective in reducing blood pressure, from 162/106 to 142/91 mm Hg, and had the same effect on quality of life. Neither of the drugs reduced quality of life, and in some of the variables a slight improvement (2-5%) was observed. The two compounds were tolerated equally well. Apart from class-typical effects (coughing for enalapril and edema for amlodipine) no clinically significant side effects were experienced.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Double-blind, parallel, comparative study on quality of life during treatment with amlodipine or enalapril in mild or moderate hypertensive patients: a multicentre study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare tolerance, antihypertensive efficacy and impact on quality of life of amlodipine and enalapril in patients with mild or moderate hypertension. DESIGN: Multicentre, double-blind, double-dummy, comparative trial in general practice. Three phases were conducted: 4 weeks on placebo, 12 weeks of dose adjustment (amlodipine or enalapril) and a 38-week maintenance period. PATIENTS: Four hundred and sixty-one patients of both sexes were enrolled; 451 were available for efficacy evaluation at the end of the trial. TREATMENT: The patients were allocated to either amlodipine (231) or enalapril (230) treatment. If at the end of dose adjustment (amlodipine 5-10 mg/day, enalapril 10-40 mg/day) diastolic blood pressure was > or = 95 mmHg, hydrochlorothiazide (25-50 mg/day) was added (27 amlodipine patients and 45 enalapril patients). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Blood pressure changes after 1 year of treatment; between- and within-group changes in quality of life as assessed by psychological general well-being, social and sexual functioning, health-risk perception, alertness, behaviour, and impact of symptom and side effects. RESULTS: Indices on quality of life were unchanged or increased (2-9%) in both groups. Blood pressure was normalized or reduced by > or = 10 mmHg in 204 (90%) and 190 (85%) patients on amlodipine and enalapril, respectively. Cough was the most frequently reported adverse event in the enalapril group (13%) and oedema in the amlodipine group (22%). Only eight (4%) patients on amlodipine and nine (4%) on enalapril were withdrawn because of drug-related adverse events. CONCLUSION: At similar blood pressure reduction in mild and moderate hypertension, quality of life is equally well maintained on amlodipine and enalapril therapy.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1993

Sex differences in essential hypertension.

A group of 41-year-old hypertensive men (n = 35, blood pressure (BP) 149.9 +/- 2.1/98.9 +/- 1.1 mmHg, mean +/- SEM) who had never received treatment for their condition were compared with hypertensive women of the same age (n = 18, BP 155.9 +/- 4.3/98.1 +/- 1.6 mmHg) with comparable body mass index (BMI, 25.9 +/- 0.5 vs. 24.9 +/- 4.5 kg m-2) who, also, had never received treatment. The lipid profile was more atherogenic in the men, with lower HDL cholesterol (1.21 +/- 0.04 vs. 1.38 +/- 0.06 mmol l-1, P = 0.04), higher total cholesterol (6.04 +/- 0.14 vs. 5.54 +/- 0.18 mmol l-1, P = 0.04) and triglycerides (1.80 +/- 0.16 vs. 0.96 +/- 0.10 mmol l-1, P < 0.001). The hypertensive men had higher haemoglobin (P < 0.001) and haematocrit. Plasma catecholamines were inversely related to BMI in the women only (r = -0.52, P < 0.05 for both noradrenaline and adrenaline). Women with BMI above 25 kg m-2 had significantly lower arterial plasma adrenaline and noradrenaline than those with BMI below 25 kg m-2 (28 +/- 5 vs. 78 +/- 16 pg ml-1, P < 0.01 and 101 +/- 17 vs. 206 +/- 33 pg ml-1, P < 0.01 respectively). A negative curvilinear relationship appeared between arterial adrenaline and insulin (r = 0.49, P = 0.05). These results suggest a male propensity for athero-thrombogenic risk factors in otherwise comparable hypertensive subjects. A close relationship between metabolic risk factors within the normal range seems to exist even in hypertensive women. The decreased sympathetic activity at rest in the obese hypertensive women indicates different pathophysiological mechanism for hypertension in lean and obese. Decreased sympathetic activity and thus reduced energy expenditure, promotes a risk for weight gain, and could explain the inverse relationship between insulin and adrenaline.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Inhalation kinetics of C8 to C10 1-alkenes and iso-alkanes in the rat after repeated exposures.

The toxicokinetic properties of C8 and C10 1-alkenes and iso-alkanes have been investigated in rats during inhalation of 100 p.p.m. of the single hydrocarbons for 3 days, 12 hr/day. The concentration of hydrocarbon was measured in blood, brain, liver, kidneys and perirenal fat at days 1, 2 and 3, immediately after exposure and 12 hr after exposure on day 3. The 1-alkenes showed an efficient absorption to blood combined with extensive accumulation in organs, compared to the iso-alkanes. The concentration of 1-alkenes and iso-alkanes in blood, brain, liver and fat increased with increasing number of carbon atoms. The C9 and C10 1-alkenes and iso-alkanes showed increasing concentration in fat during the exposure period and high concentrations 12 hr after cessation of exposure. The extensive accumulation in both blood and organs of 1-alkenes compared to any of the other groups of hydrocarbons may have a toxicologic relevance. Products which contain 1-alkenes should be handled carefully to minimize the risk of inhalation exposure.

Absorption↗

PubMed1993

Progesterone reduces sympathetic tone without changing blood pressure or fluid balance in men.

There is scant information on the effects of progesterone on circulation. Changes in catecholamine levels, blood pressure and transcapillary fluid balance were measured in 12 men before and during administration of natural progesterone (Utrogestan). Before administration, systolic blood pressure was significantly correlated with venous adrenaline (r = 0.67, p = 0.01). There was a significant decrease (p = 0.004) in venous noradrenaline during progesterone administration, and systolic blood pressure was significantly correlated with the arteriovenous difference for noradrenaline (r = 0.66, p = 0.02). Serum progesterone, which attained levels similar to those found in women during the luteal phase, did not significantly alter blood pressure, body weight or intra- to extravascular fluid shift. It is concluded that progesterone may have a direct action by increasing the uptake of noradrenaline from the synaptic cleft or by decreasing the nerve firing rate. Interestingly, the pretreatment finding of a significant correlation between blood pressure and adrenaline was less evident during progesterone administration.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Cardiovascular reactivity, coronary risk factors, and sympathetic activity in young men.

We have previously demonstrated that awareness of high blood pressure may increase blood pressure, plasma catecholamine levels, and stress responses. In the present study, three groups of 19-year-old men, all unaware of their blood pressure status, were selected from the first (group-1, 62 +/- 2 mm Hg, [mean +/- SEM], n = 15), 50th (group-50, 90 +/- 4 mm Hg, n = 15), and 99th (group-99, 123 +/- 5 mm Hg, n = 14) percentiles in causal mean blood pressure at a screening. They were studied (blinded examiners) with intra-arterial blood pressure recordings and multiple measurements of arterial plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine during a mental arithmetic challenge and cold pressor test. Despite high mean blood pressure at the screening, group-99 did not differ from group-50 either in intra-arterial mean blood pressure after 30 minutes of supine rest (89 +/- 3 versus 86 +/- 2 mm Hg) or in serum lipids and resting plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine. However, in group-99 resting plasma epinephrine showed a positive hyperbolic relation to resting diastolic blood pressure (r = .73, P = .004) and a negative hyperbolic relation to the ratio of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to total cholesterol (r = -.75, P = .002). None of these correlations were present in the two other groups. Furthermore, the three groups differed in heart rate responses (P < .0005) and systolic (P < .0005) and diastolic (P < .05) blood pressure responses to mental arithmetic challenge, group-99 being hyperreactive compared with the other two groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Effects of ovarian stimulation on blood pressure and plasma catecholamine levels.

Effects of ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization on blood pressure and plasma catecholamine levels were studied in 10 women. The examinations were carried out before hormonal treatment with human menopausal gonadotropin (day three of the menstrual cycle, mean serum oestradiol concentration 0.2 nmol l-1, and on the day after ovulation induction with human chorionic gonadotropin (cycle days 10-12, mean serum oestradiol concentration 7.4 nmol l-1). Systolic and diastolic blood pressures (mean +/- SD) decreased 6.7 +/- 8.6 mm Hg, p = 0.049, and 5.3 +/- 4.7 mm Hg, p = 0.009, respectively), and venous plasma noradrenaline increased (42 +/- 44 pg ml-1, p = 0.02) during ovarian stimulation. No significant change was observed in either arterial noradrenaline, arterial adrenaline or venous adrenaline. After stimulation a positive correlation was observed between systolic blood pressure and arterial adrenaline (r = 0.73, p = 0.027), and between systolic blood pressure and the arterial-venous difference for adrenaline (r = 0.81, p = 0.007). The increased venous noradrenaline levels may be a reflex-mediated activation of the sympathetic nervous tone due to a decrease in blood pressure, or may indicate reduced neuronal re-uptake of released noradrenaline. The mechanisms behind the strong correlation between adrenaline and blood pressure are unclear, but may be induced by the supraphysiological oestradiol levels. Thus, adrenaline seems to be more important for blood pressure control in this particular setting.

Adult↗