title: Plasma calcitonin gene-related peptide levels in patients with various hypertensive diseases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To clarify the pathophysiological role of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in hypertensive diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a sensitive radioimmunoassay established in our laboratory, plasma CGRP levels were evaluated in control subjects and in patients with essential hypertension, phaeochromocytoma or primary aldosteronism.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The CGRP levels in the three hypertensive groups were significantly higher than in normal controls, but no statistically significant difference was observed among CGRP levels in the three hypertensive groups. In the three cases of secondary hypertensives (one patient with phaeochromocytoma and two with primary aldosteronism), a significant decrease in plasma CGRP levels and a marked reduction in blood pressure were observed after adrenalectomy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that increased plasma CGRP levels in hypertensive patients could be a compensatory reaction to elevated blood pressure.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Sapporo Medical College, Japan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Masuda
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimamoto
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ura
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Iimura
mesh_terms: D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006929:Hyperaldosteronism / Q000097:blood*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000097:blood*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
chemical_list: D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide