title: [Changes in plasma neuropeptides before and after clonidine in patients with essential hypertension].
abstract: Plasma concentrations of beta-endorphin (beta-EP), leucine enkephalin (LEK), arginine vasopressin (AVP), neurotensin (NT), renin activity (PRA) and angiotensin II (AT-II) were determined before and after the treatment with clonidine in 117 patients with essential hypertension. Before the treatment, the patient group had lower levels of beta-EP and LEK (P < 0.001), higher levels of AVP, PRA and AT-II (P < 0.05-0.01), as compared with those in control group. After 14 days of the treatment, plasma levels of beta-EP, LEK increased significantly (P < 0.001), and correlated negatively with the decrease of the mean artery pressure (r = -0.369 and r = -0.441, respectively, P < 0.01). PRA and AT-II decreased significantly (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Decrease of AVP level was also observed, but did not reach the statistical significance. NT did not change both before and after the treatment. These data suggest that beta-EP and LEK may be involved in pathogenesis of hypertension and in hypotensive action of clonidine.
authors.affiliation: Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, PLA, Shanghai.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003000:Clonidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004743:Enkephalin, Leucine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000097:blood*; D012083:Renin / Q000097:blood; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides; D004743:Enkephalin, Leucine; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D012083:Renin; D003000:Clonidine