Effect of metoclopramide on blood pressure during handgrip test in hypertensive patients

Twenty two (22) hypertensive patients were studied during handgrip test before and during metoclopramide treatment. Metoclopamide was intravenously administered at the rate of 7,5 µg/kg/min during a period of 30 min. Two placebo periods before and after metoclopramide infusion were employed. There was an increase of blood pressure and heart rate during handrgrid test; however, metaclopramide decreased blood pressure prior to handgrip test. In labetalol pretreated hypertensive patients (600-800 mg/daily po, during 7 days period), metoclopramide decreased greater blood pressure before and after handgrip test. Postmenopausal women reacted greater that premenopausal women. It appers that premenopausal women exhibit a vasculoprotecting effect during handgrip which should be attributed to estrogen secretion