The hyperactive child syndrome: peripheral sympathetic nervous system function and the effect of d-amphetamine.
We evaluated sympathetic nervous system function in medication-free hyperactive children by measuring plasma levels of norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase and then comparing the effects of two therapeutics doses of d-amphetamine to placebo in these patients. The medication-free hyperactive patients and controls had similar plasma NE levels and blood pressures while recumbent, and a similar increase in NE on standing, but the patients had a larger pressor response on standing. In the hyperactive patients d-amphetamine significantly increased blood pressure, pulse rate, and NE levels. The change in NE levels correlated with the change in amphetamine levels. The medication-free patients, when more anxious, had higher plasma NE levels.
D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002648:Child; D003913:Dextroamphetamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase / Q000097:blood*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood*
D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase; D003913:Dextroamphetamine; D009638:Norepinephrine