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Abstract

Resistance of hypertensive patients to large doses of guanethidine is seldom due to defective absorption of the drug, since the existence of adrenergic blockade can be demonstrated in these cases.
The effect on the blood pressure of intravenous phenoxybenzamine and norepinephrine, respectively, has been compared in groups of hypertensive patients resistant and responsive to guanethidine.
As both the hypotensive action of intravenous phenoxybenzamine, a peripheral antagonist of norepinephrine, and the pressor effect of norepinephrine infusion were more marked in patients resistant to guanethidine it seems likely that the maintenance of high blood pressure in these cases is due to enhanced sensitivity of the arterioles to endogenous norepinephrine. To combat this effect the therapeutic use of phenoxybenzamine appeared logical.
Phenoxybenzamine taken by mouth has been found by itself to be an unsatisfactory hypotensive agent but when used in combination with guanethidine has proved highly effective. The blood pressure of 13 out of 16 hypertensive cases previously resistant to guanethidine in high dosage has been controlled for periods of from 3 to 30 months after the addition of phenoxybenzamine.
When used in combination with guanethidine, phenoxybenzamine caused no side effects.

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Published In

Go to Circulation
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Circulation
Pages: 542 - 551
PubMed: 4876981

History

Published online: 1 September 1968
Published in print: September 1968

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Keywords

  1. Vascular sensitivity
  2. Hypotension
  3. Myocardial infarction
  4. Valsalva maneuver

Authors

Affiliations

G. SANDLER, M.D., Lond. M.R.C.P.
From the Royal Infirmary, Sheffield, England.
A. W. D. LEISHMAN, M.A., D.M. Oxf., F.R.C.P.
From the Royal Infirmary, Sheffield, England.
P. M. HUMBERSTONE, M.B. Sheff., M.R.C.P.
From the Royal Infirmary, Sheffield, England.

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  1. Resistant Hypertension: A Real Entity or a Phantom Diagnosis?, The Journal of Clinical Hypertension, 17, 8, (578-579), (2015).https://doi.org/10.1111/jch.12565
    Crossref
  2. A comparison and an investigation of a potential synergistic effect of labetalol and bethanidine in patients with mild hypertension., British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 8, S2, (2012).https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2125.1979.tb04778.x
    Crossref
  3. Depressants of peripheral sympathetic nerve function, Pharmacology of Antihypertensive Drugs, (194-238), (1984).https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-90313-6.50013-7
    Crossref
  4. Blood Pressure Control in Chronic Dialysis Patients, Replacement of Renal Function by Dialysis, (575-587), (1983).https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-6768-7_28
    Crossref
  5. Specific antibodies against the irreversible α-adrenergic antagonist, phenoxybenzamine, Biochemical Pharmacology, 30, 12, (1685-1692), (1981).https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-2952(81)90397-X
    Crossref
  6. Toxic Effects of Adrenergic Nerve-End Inhibitors, Neural-Transmitter Depleting Agents and False Transmitters, Adrenergic Activators and Inhibitors, (505-558), (1981).https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-67584-3_13
    Crossref
  7. Blood Pressure Control in Chronic Dialysis Patients, Replacement of Renal Function by Dialysis, (504-518), (1979).https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-9327-3_27
    Crossref
  8. Exertional hypotension due to postganglionic sympathetic blocking drugs, Postgraduate Medical Journal, 52, 610, (487-491), (1976).https://doi.org/10.1136/pgmj.52.610.487
    Crossref
  9. Guanethidine, New England Journal of Medicine, 295, 19, (1053-1057), (1976).https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM197611042951906
    Crossref
  10. Time-course effects of oral guanethidine administration on cardiovascular and autonomic effects on dogs, European Journal of Pharmacology, 36, 1, (21-32), (1976).https://doi.org/10.1016/0014-2999(76)90252-1
    Crossref
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Guanethidine-Resistant Hypertension
Circulation
  • Vol. 38
  • No. 3

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