title: Comparison of the pharmacokinetics of intravenous dl-propranolol in borderline and permanent hypertension.
abstract: In borderline and permanent hypertensives after rapid i.v. injection of dl-propranolol 0.2 mg/kg plasma levels were measured and were fitted to a two-compartment open-model. In borderline patients, characterized by a high basal cardiac output (CO), plasma levels were always lower than in permanent hypertensives. The biological half-life was reduced and the central volume of distribution, volume of distribution at pseudo-equilibrium and total clearance (TC) were markedly increased. In the overall population, there was a significant positive correlation between CO and TC. Rapid achievement of a predetermined plateau in each group constituted experimental proof of the validity of the two-compartment open-model for kinetic analysis of propranolol i.v. If kinetic parameters from permanent hypertensive were applied to borderline hypertensives a lower plateau was obtained. Thus, in so far as beta-blockade is related to plasma level of propranolol, an increased intravenous dose may be required in patients with high CO.
mesh_terms: D002302:Cardiac Output; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D008954:Models, Biological; D011433:Propranolol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D011433:Propranolol