title: Diminished circadian blood pressure rhythm in patients with asymptomatic normotensive pheochromocytoma.
abstract: In our study, the circadian blood pressure (BP) rhythm was studied in subjects with asymptomatic and normotensive pheochromocytoma. We have therefore performed 24-hour BP monitoring not only in 6 subjects with asymptomatic pheochromocytoma, but also in 33 patients with symptomatic pheochromocytoma and in 10 normotensive subjects, who served as a control group. Circadian BP rhythm was expressed by assessing a relative night-time BP decline. We found a similar BP rhythm, catecholamine excretion and tumor size in subjects with both forms of pheochromocytoma. Subjects with asymptomatic pheochromocytoma had a significantly lower night-time systolic BP decline (P=0.01) and diastolic BP decline (P=0.006) than normotensive controls. We conclude that the attenuated night-time BP decline in normotensive and asymptomatic subjects with pheochromocytoma might be a possible sign of partial desensitization of the cardiovascular system to catecholamines.
authors.affiliation: Third Medical Department, General Faculty Hospital, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic. tzeli@lfl.cuni.cz
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zelinka
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Widimský
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weisserová
mesh_terms: D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000502:physiology; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines