[Stimulation of the central dopaminergic receptor in essential hypertensive patients using amantadine].

At present, evidence has been accumulating that point out that some central nervous structures, of oblongata to the limbic system, are primarily involved in the control of systemic arterial pressure (AP). In agreement with several experimental and clinical works, a hypothesis has been suggested that a functional defect of the central dopaminergic system could be involved in the etiopathogenesis of essential hypertension (EH). With the objective of analyzing this hypothesis, the effect of dopamine (DA) agonist, amantadine (Am) on heart rate (HR), AP, plasma catecholamines (CA, PCA), urinary DA, noradrenaline (NA), adrenaline (A), vanilmandelic acid (VMA) and homovanillic acid (HVA), was studied in 19 females with established EH.

[Pheochromocytoma and catecholamines. Experience in 63 cases studied for 25 years].

The usefulness of fluorimetric techniques in the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma was investigated. In the 63 cases studied during 25 years by measuring simultaneously various aminergic parameters, including plasma catecholamines and urinary adrenaline (A), noradrenaline (N) and vanilmandelic acid (VMA), we were able to establish the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma in all cases. Adrenaline excretion was found to be higher in patients with tumors located on the adrenal region, whereas N excretion was predominantly increased in patients with extra-adrenal tumors.

[Effect of inhibition of converting enzyme by captopril on arterial pressure, renin and aldosterone in essential hypertension].

The response of arterial blood pressure, plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma (PA) or urinary aldosterone (UA) concentrations to the administration of captopril, was studied in patients with established essential hypertension. Captopril was effective in lowering significantly the blood pressure (189.4/111.

[Primary aldosteronism. Diagnostic aspects and treatment].

Despite the relatively low frequency of primary aldosteronism, its diagnosis is of great importance because surgical treatment results, in the majority of cases, in the disappearance of arterial hypertension. We present in this paper six cases with this type of secondary hypertension. The disease was suspected by the coexistence of hypertension and hypokalemia.

[Effect of sub-pressor doses of dopamine on renin secretion in the anesthetized dog].

The effects of dopamine, its precursor L-dopa, and the dopaminergic agonist bromocriptine (BEC), on plasma renin activity (PRA), in pentobarbital anesthetized male dogs were investigated. Infusion of dopamine at a dose which did not change blood pressure ( 4 ug/kg/min) had no effect on the secretion of renin, nor did it produce modifications in the PRA response to furosemide (10 mg i.v.

[Changes in aldosterone receptors in congestive heart disease. Report of a case].

It is presented a case with mitral and tricuspid rheumatic valvulopathy and refractory chronic congestive heart failure, which developed two episodes of severe hyponatremia and hyperkalemia, accompanied in at least one occasion of hyperpreninemia and hyperaldosteronism, after administration of 50 and 100 mg of sprionolactone for 2 and 3 weeks. It is believed that this severe effect of spironolactone was due to the presence of an alteration of aldosterone receptors acquired during the large period of congestive failure suffered by the patient. In as much as we have studied 4 similar cases in the last few months, a note of warning is done in the use of this drug in the treatment of this type of cardiac condition.

Empty sella and rhinorrhea. A report of eight treated cases.

The association of an empty sella with rhinorrhea is an unusual finding. Of 29 cases of empty sella observed by the authors, eight underwent surgery for rhinorrhea. None of the patients showed clinical evidence of increased intracranial pressure or hydrocephalus.

Dopamine excretion in benign pheochromocytoma.

Dopamine excretion is reported in 27 patients with benign pheochromocytoma. In 21 patients the tumours were in the adrenal (one patient, bilateral), four were extra-adrenal, and two were assumed to be so since they were not found at laparotomy. Dopamine excretion was found to be higher in the patients with extra-adrenal tumours and in one patient--with bilateral pheochromocytoma.

[Aldosteronism after hypokalemia in diuretic therapy of systemic arterial hypertension].

Twenty-two cases with essential arterial hypertension were studied in the final part of a chronic period of treatment with Chlortalidona and in the first 30 days after treatment. Measurements of the following parameters were made: 1) Change in the excretion of urinary aldosterone (aldo). 2) Change in the arterial pressure (delta P).

[Effect of alpha, beta blocker, labetol on the angiotensin renin system in arterial hypertension].

The effect of labetalol, a new alpha and beta adrenergic blocker, on blood pressure, heart rate, plasma renin activity (PRA), and urinary aldosterone excretion was assessed in 23 essential hypertensive patients, divided in 2 subgroups: 11 with normal electrocardiogram and 12 with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). In the first subgroup significant differences were found in the arithmethyc mean for sistolic blood pressure in sitting position (control: 166.1 +/- 17.

[Hypotension, mental disorders and changes in catecholamine excretion observed during the administration of disulfiram in a case of pheochromocytoma].

A case of pheocromocytoma treated with disulfiram during ten days in described. Hypotensive and psychiatric effects were observed, which disappeared upon discontinuation of the drug. Urinary amines decreased while the drug was used, and upon interruption of its administration dopamine increased, as a rebound phenomena probably due to availability of tissue dopamine previously blocked by DBH inhibition.

[Arterial damage and the renin-angiotensin system in essential hypertension. Study of 63 cases].

Brunner, Laragh et al. have suggested that essential hypertensives with low plasma renin activity (PRA) are at lower risk of myocardial infarction or cerebrovascular accidents than those with high or normal PRA levels. In this paper we report on 63 patients with essential hypertension in whom the relation between PRA and the ocurrence of cardiovascular events was studied.

[The renin angiotensin system in the pathology of arterial hypertension of aortic coarctation].

Nine patients with aortic coarctation were studied. On the fourth day of a low diet, blood samples were obtained for plasma renin activity (PRA) at 8:00 A.M.