title: Plasma dopamine beta-hydroxylase: a possible aid in the study and evaluation of hypertension.
abstract: The activity of dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH) in plasma ranged from 2 to 100 units per liter of plasma in 82 apparently healthy subjects (ages 22 to 35 years). A nonnormal pattern of distribution was evident: 62 subjects had values below 35 units (18 +/- 1), while 13 of the remaining 20 subjects had values above 60 units (80 +/- 5). Those with low DBH activity had lower values for urinary catecholamine excretion (31 +/- 3 micrograms), with normal and stable blood pressure; those with high DBH activity had higher values for urinary catecholamine excretion (72 +/- 6 micrograms), with greater lability of arterial blood pressure. The DBH activity was significantly elevated in patients with labile (74 +/- 2 mm-Hg) or fixed (57 +/- 2 mm-Hg) essential hypertension. The results indicate that plasma DBH activity is low and that it falls within a narrow range in young adults with normal and stable blood pressure.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000652:urine*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase / Q000097:blood*; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D006977:Hypertension, Renal / Q000175:diagnosis; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine