Correlations between catecholamines and prostaglandins in patients with primary arterial hypertension and pheochromocytoma in basic conditions and after administration of clonidine

: Authors assessed correlation between venous blood catecholamines and prostaglandins concentrations before and after inhibition of sympathetic activity by clonidine in patients with primary hypertension or pheochromocytoma. 30 patients with essential uncomplicated hypertension and 11 with pheochromocytoma underwent the study. The control group consisted of 6 healthy volunteers. Serum norepinephrine (NA), epinephrine (A), prostaglandins: PGE2 PGF2 alpha and prostacyclin metabolite -6-keto-PGF1 alpha were determined before and 3 hours after oral administration of 0.3 mg clonidine. Negative correlation was stated between basic serum norepinephrine and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha concentrations in patients with pheochromocytoma, which could indicate prostacyclin metabolism disorders during persistent hypercatecholaminemia . There was no correlation between catecholamines and prostaglandins during the inhibition of sympathetic activity in patients with pheochromocytoma as well as essential hypertension. The positive correlation was observed between changes in serum NA and PGF2 alpha levels in patients with borderline hypertension. Thus, one may suppose, that correlation between na excretion and vasoconstrictive PGF2 proved in acute experiments, becomes evident within the early stage of hypertension also during sympathetic activity inhibition.