Insulin resistance in essential hypertension is characterized by impaired insulin stimulation of blood flow in skeletal muscle.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether insulin-stimulated blood flow in patients with mild essential hypertension is altered.


METHODS
Eleven untreated mildly hypertensive patients [aged 35 +/- 2 years, body mass index 25.1 +/- 0.4 kg/m2, mean arterial pressure 110 +/- 2 mmHg (means +/- SEM) and 10 matched normotensive subjects (mean arterial pressure 94 +/- 3 mmHg).


METHODS
Blood flow was quantitated directly in skeletal muscle both basally and during supraphysiologic hyperinsulinemia (serum insulin approximately = 450 mU/l) using radiowater ([15O]H2O) and positron emission tomography. Whole-body and femoral muscle glucose uptakes were determined using the euglycemic insulin clamp technique, [18F]-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose and positron emission tomography.


RESULTS
Rates of whole-body and femoral muscle glucose uptake were significantly lower in the hypertensive than in the normotensive group. Insulin increased muscle blood flow by 91% in the normotensive group, but only by 33% in the hypertensive group.


CONCLUSIONS
The ability of insulin to stimulate blood flow in patients with mild essential hypertension is impaired.
Laine
H
H
Department of Medicine, University of Turku, Finland.
Knuuti
M J
MJ
Ruotsalainen
U
U
Raitakari
M
M
Iida
H
H
Kapanen
J
J
Kirvelä
O
O
Haaparanta
M
M
Yki-Järvinen
H
H
Nuutila
P
P
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015309:Glucose Clamp Technique; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D005947:Glucose