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Effect of labetalol on plasma noradrenaline and adrenaline in hypertensive man

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Summary

Injection i. v. of labetalol, a new adrenergic alpha- and beta-blocking agent, decreased arterial blood pressure in 9 hypertensive subjects resting in the supine position, when standing and during supine exercise. Heart rate after labetalol was unchanged in the resting supine position, and it fell in the latter two conditions. Plasma noradrenaline concentration was higher after labetalol in all three experiments as compared to a control study. Plasma adrenaline after labetalol was increased only in the standing position, when the highest plasma noradrenaline concentrations were observed. Blood glucose concentration tended to increase after labetalol, but the difference was not statistically significant. The changes in plasma noradrenaline and blood glucose after labetalol mimic findings observed after alpha-adrenergic receptor blockade. The beta-adrenergic receptor blocking property of labetalol is responsible for the reduced heart rate and it is likely to contribute to the higher plasma noradrenaline concentration observed when standing and during supine exercise.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, Herlev Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark

    N. J. Christensen

  2. 2nd Clinic of Internal Medicine, Aarhus Kommunehospital, Aarhus, Denmark

    N. J. Christensen

  3. Department of Clinical Physiology, Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark

    J. Trap-Jensen & T. L. Svendsen

  4. Department of Internal Medicine C, Diakonissestiftelsen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    S. Rasmussen & P. E. Nielsen

Authors
  1. N. J. Christensen
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  2. J. Trap-Jensen
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  3. T. L. Svendsen
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  4. S. Rasmussen
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  5. P. E. Nielsen
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Christensen, N.J., Trap-Jensen, J., Svendsen, T.L. et al. Effect of labetalol on plasma noradrenaline and adrenaline in hypertensive man. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 14, 227–230 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00560454

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00560454

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