title: Norepinephrine response in early HIV infection.
abstract: Norepinephrine response to a cold pressor test was investigated in 95 homosexual men in a longitudinal study of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The baseline data obtained from 76 HIV+ and 19 HIV- subjects are included in this report. After the insertion of a venicatheter and following a 30 min rest, subjects immersed one of their hands in ice water for 2 min, and serial blood samples were obtained for the determination of catecholamine levels. The results show that the norepinephrine response in HIV+ subjects compared to that of HIV- subjects was blunted. Examination of the responses using linear and quadratic orthogonal polynomials suggested that these differences between the two groups were primarily a function of their rate of increase in norepinephrine levels. It was observed also that in HIV+ subjects, norepinephrine level peaked earlier than that in HIV- subjects. The data suggest that autonomic dysfunction is present in the early stages of HIV infection.
authors.affiliation: Center For Biopsychosocial Studies on AIDS, University of Miami, School of Medicine, Florida 33101.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szapocznik
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eisdorfer
mesh_terms: D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003080:Cold Temperature; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D009638:Norepinephrine