title: The relationship of plasma norepinephrine levels and aortic distensibility in elderly with isolated systolic hypertension.
abstract: The present study evaluated the relationship of plasma norepinephrine (NE) and aortic distensibility (AOD) in a group of elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension. Aortic distensibility was calculated as AOD = 2 x (delta aortic diameter)/diastolic aortic diameter) x (delta aortic pressure). Results indicate that the aortic diameters were significantly increased while the diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were decreased, in response to combined alpha- and beta-receptor blockade (labetalol). However, we found that AOD was not significantly related to plasma NE. We therefore conclude that AOD can be increased in elderly hypertensives by alpha-beta-blockade, as has been found in younger patients, but plasma NE is not a useful marker for AOD in this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Handa
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Wolf
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001011:Aorta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D007741:Labetalol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D007741:Labetalol; D009638:Norepinephrine