Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2005
Publication Title
Hypertension
Abstract
Previous studies have demonstrated that antihypertensive treatment resets baroreflex control of heart rate (HR) and increases cardiac vagal baroreflex sensitivity. However, it is uncertain whether baroreflex control of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) also resets after treatment. We tested the hypothesis that chronic antihypertensive therapy alters baroreflex regulation of MSNA in patients with untreated moderate hypertension. Seven newly diagnosed patients with systolic blood pressure (BP) of 159 5 mm Hg (mean SE) and diastolic BP of 103 4 mm Hg were studied before and after 1 to 2 weeks ´ and 3 months (chronic) of antihypertensive treatment with losartan– hydrochlorothiazide (Hyzaar). MSNA and hemodynamics were measured supine, during a Valsalva maneuver (VM), and at 70° head-up tilt (HUT) for 10 minutes. Data were compared with those obtained in 7 age-matched healthy controls. We found that Hyzaar lowered mean BP acutely and chronically by 20 4 and 23 3 mm Hg (both P 0.01) but did not change HR. Supine MSNA increased by 43 11% and 34 11% after acute and chronic treatment (both P 0.01). However, MSNA responses to VM and HUT did not differ after treatment compared with before treatment, indicating unchanged reflex control. These data indicate that sympathetic neural activity was augmented substantially by antihypertensive treatment with Hyzaar, consistent with an ongoing baroreflex unloading, and did not return to baseline or “reset” after 3 months of therapy. We speculate that persistent and marked sympathetic activation by the baroreflex may be a potential mechanism for hypertension that is refractory to antihypertensive therapy and may provide a target mechanism for persistent morbidity despite adequate BP control.
Keywords
baroreceptors, autonomic nervous system, renin-angiotensin system
Volume
45
First Page
513
Last Page
521
DOI
10.1161/01.HYP.0000158312.63381.c1
Rights
© 2005 American Heart Association, Inc.
Recommended Citation
Fu, Qi; Zhang, Rong; Witkowski, Sarah; Arbab-Zadeh, Armin; Prasad, Anand; Okazaki, Kazunobu; and Levine, Benjamin D., "Persistent Sympathetic Activation During Chronic Antihypertensive Therapy" (2005). Exercise and Sport Studies: Faculty Publications, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/ess_facpubs/38
Comments
Archived as published. Open access.