The pressor actions of noradrenaline, angiotensin II and saralasin in chronic autonomic failure treated with fludrocortisone

Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1979 Sep;8(3):253-60. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1979.tb01011.x.

Abstract

1 Treatment of postural hypotension due to chronic autonomic failure with fludrocortisone increased the pressor sensitivity to intravenous noradrenaline. Fludrocortisone increased the blood pressure in the standing but not the lying position. These effects of fludrocortisone may be the result of increased sensitivity of vascular receptors to noradrenaline. 2 The pressor action of angiotensin II, to which patients were supersensitive, may have involved the stimulation of alpha-adrenoceptors since it was partially antagonised by phentolamine. 3 Saralasin had a marked, paradoxical, pressor effect. This may have been mediated by vascular alpha-adrenoceptors because log dose-response curves of saralasin-induced increases in systolic pressure were shifted to the right in a parallel fashion after phentolamine. 4 Fludrocortisone treatment increased the pressor sensitivity to intravenous saralasin but not to angiotensin-II.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Angiotensin II / analogs & derivatives*
  • Angiotensin II / pharmacology*
  • Autonomic Nervous System*
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects*
  • Chronic Disease
  • Female
  • Fludrocortisone / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nervous System Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Nervous System Diseases / physiopathology
  • Norepinephrine / pharmacology*
  • Phentolamine / pharmacology
  • Saralasin / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Angiotensin II
  • Saralasin
  • Fludrocortisone
  • Norepinephrine
  • Phentolamine