Phaeochromocytoma and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: apparent suppression of symptoms and noradrenaline secretion by calcium-channel blockade.
A 44-year-old woman with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and a noradrenaline-secreting phaeochromocytoma is described. She experienced as great improvement in cardiovascular symptoms during double-blind treatment with the calcium-channel blocker nifedipine compared with the placebo period. Symptom relief on nifedipine therapy was associated with a pronounced decline in elevated urinary noradrenaline levels. This observation suggests that calcium-channel blockers interfere with the release of noradrenaline from phaeochromocytoma tissue and thus may be beneficial in patients with phaeochromocytoma.
D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002312:Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D009543:Nifedipine; D009638:Norepinephrine