Donate Help Contact The AHA Sign In Home
American Heart Association
Circulation
Search: search_blue_button Advanced Search
Circulation. 1999;99:2537-2542

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Johansson, M.
Right arrow Articles by Friberg, P.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Johansson, M.
Right arrow Articles by Friberg, P.
Related Collections
Right arrow Cardio-renal physiology/pathophysiology
Right arrow Coronary imaging: angiography/ultrasound/Doppler/CC

(Circulation. 1999;99:2537-2542.)
© 1999 American Heart Association, Inc.


Clinical Investigation and Reports

Increased Sympathetic Nerve Activity in Renovascular Hypertension

Mats Johansson, MD; Mikael Elam, MD, PhD; Bengt Rundqvist, MD, PhD; Graeme Eisenhofer, PhD; Hans Herlitz, MD, PhD; Gavin Lambert, PhD; Peter Friberg, MD, PhD

From the Departments of Clinical Physiology (M.J., G.L., P.F.), Clinical Neurophysiology (M.E.), Cardiology (B.R.), and Nephrology (H.H.), Göteborg University, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden, and National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (G.E.), Bethesda, Md.

Correspondence to Peter Friberg, MD, PhD, Department of Clinical Physiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, SE 413 45 Göteborg, Sweden. E-mail fribergp{at}mednet.gu.se

Background—Increased sympathetic nerve activity may contribute to the progression of renovascular hypertension. Because previous results have been inconclusive, we investigated whether renovascular hypertensives show increased total and regional sympathetic nerve activity.

Methods and Results—Sixty-five patients underwent renal angiography and measurements of plasma renin activity and angiotensin II in conjunction with estimation of sympathetic nerve activity by means of radiotracer dilution and intraneural recordings of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA). Age-matched healthy subjects (n=15) were examined for comparison. Total body norepinephrine (NE) spillover, an index of overall sympathetic nerve activity, was increased by 100% and MSNA by 60% in the hypertensive patients compared with healthy subjects (P<0.01 for both). A subgroup of 24 patients with well-defined renovascular hypertension (cured or improved hypertension after renal angioplasty) showed similar increases in total body NE spillover compared with the group at large. Patients with arterial plasma renin activity and angiotensin II levels above median had higher values for total body NE spillover than patients below median (P<0.01).

Conclusions—This study unequivocally demonstrates elevated sympathetic nerve activity in patients with renovascular hypertension. The adrenergic overactivity may contribute to the blood pressure elevation and perhaps also to the high cardiovascular mortality in renovascular hypertension.


Key Words: hypertension • nervous system, sympathetic • renin




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
HypertensionHome page
G. Grassi
Assessment of Sympathetic Cardiovascular Drive in Human Hypertension: Achievements and Perspectives
Hypertension, October 1, 2009; 54(4): 690 - 697.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Am. Soc. Nephrol.Home page
M. P. Schlaich, F. Socratous, S. Hennebry, N. Eikelis, E. A. Lambert, N. Straznicky, M. D. Esler, and G. W. Lambert
Sympathetic Activation in Chronic Renal Failure
J. Am. Soc. Nephrol., May 1, 2009; 20(5): 933 - 939.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Am Coll Cardiol IntvHome page
R. D. Safian and R. D. Madder
Refining the Approach to Renal Artery Revascularization
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. Intv., March 1, 2009; 2(3): 161 - 174.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Vasc MedHome page
G. J Dubel and T. P Murphy
The role of percutaneous revascularization for renal artery stenosis
Vascular Medicine, May 1, 2008; 13(2): 141 - 156.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
Exp PhysiolHome page
F. D. McBryde, S.-J. Guild, C. J. Barrett, J. W. Osborn, and S. C. Malpas
Cardiovascular Control: Angiotensin II-based hypertension and the sympathetic nervous system: the role of dose and increased dietary salt in rabbits
Exp Physiol, September 1, 2007; 92(5): 831 - 840.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol.Home page
R. G. Evans, S. L. Burke, G. W. Lambert, and G. A. Head
Renal responses to acute reflex activation of renal sympathetic nerve activity and renal denervation in secondary hypertension
Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, September 1, 2007; 293(3): R1247 - R1256.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
HypertensionHome page
P. J. Davern and G. A. Head
Fos-Related Antigen Immunoreactivity After Acute and Chronic Angiotensin II-Induced Hypertension in the Rabbit Brain
Hypertension, May 1, 2007; 49(5): 1170 - 1177.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
HypertensionHome page
S. L. Burke, G. A. Head, G. W. Lambert, and R. G. Evans
Renal Sympathetic Neuroeffector Function in Renovascular and Angiotensin II-Dependent Hypertension in Rabbits
Hypertension, April 1, 2007; 49(4): 932 - 938.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
CirculationHome page
C. J. Cooper and T. P. Murphy
The Case for Renal Artery Stenting for Treatment of Renal Artery Stenosis
Circulation, January 16, 2007; 115(2): 263 - 270.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Biol Res NursHome page
D. J. Kennedy, M. W. Burket, S. A. Khuder, J. I. Shapiro, R. V. Topp, and C. J. Cooper
Quality of life improves after renal artery stenting.
Biol Res Nurs, October 1, 2006; 8(2): 129 - 137.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
Eur Heart JHome page
R. de Silva, N. P. Nikitin, S. Bhandari, A. Nicholson, A. L. Clark, and J. G.F. Cleland
Atherosclerotic renovascular disease in chronic heart failure: should we intervene?
Eur. Heart J., August 2, 2005; 26(16): 1596 - 1605.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Cardiovasc ResHome page
O. Vonend, A. Okonek, J. Stegbauer, S. Habbel, I. Quack, and L. C. Rump
Renovascular effects of sympathetic cotransmitters ATP and NPY are age-dependent in spontaneoulsy hypertensive rats
Cardiovasc Res, May 1, 2005; 66(2): 345 - 352.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol.Home page
T. E. Lohmeier, D. A. Hildebrandt, S. Warren, P. J. May, and J. T. Cunningham
Recent insights into the interactions between the baroreflex and the kidneys in hypertension
Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, April 1, 2005; 288(4): R828 - R836.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
J. Ran, T. Hirano, and M. Adachi
Chronic ANG II infusion increases plasma triglyceride level by stimulating hepatic triglyceride production in rats
Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, November 1, 2004; 287(5): E955 - E961.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
HypertensionHome page
G. A. Head and S. L. Burke
Sympathetic Responses to Stress and Rilmenidine in 2K1C Rabbits: Evidence of Enhanced Nonvascular Effector Mechanism
Hypertension, March 1, 2004; 43(3): 636 - 642.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Cardiovasc ResHome page
O. Grisk and R. Rettig
Interactions between the sympathetic nervous system and the kidneys in arterial hypertension
Cardiovasc Res, February 1, 2004; 61(2): 238 - 246.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
HypertensionHome page
J. Y.H. Chan, L.-L. Wang, Y.-M. Chao, and S. H.H. Chan
Downregulation of Basal iNOS at the Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla Is Innate in SHR
Hypertension, March 1, 2003; 41(3): 563 - 570.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
HypertensionHome page
A. Dendorfer, A. Thornagel, W. Raasch, O. Grisk, K. Tempel, and P. Dominiak
Angiotensin II Induces Catecholamine Release by Direct Ganglionic Excitation
Hypertension, September 1, 2002; 40(3): 348 - 354.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
HypertensionHome page
S. Kagiyama, A. Varela, M. I. Phillips, and S. M. Galli
Antisense Inhibition of Brain Renin-Angiotensin System Decreased Blood Pressure in Chronic 2-Kidney, 1 Clip Hypertensive Rats
Hypertension, February 1, 2001; 37(2): 371 - 375.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Nephrol Dial TransplantHome page
L. C. Rump, K. Amann, S. Orth, and E. Ritz
Sympathetic overactivity in renal disease: a window to understand progression and cardiovascular complications of uraemia?
Nephrol. Dial. Transplant., November 1, 2000; 15(11): 1735 - 1738.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol.Home page
O. Grisk, B. A. J. Frey, A. Uber, and R. Rettig
Sympathetic activity in early renal posttransplantation hypertension in rats
Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, November 1, 2000; 279(5): R1737 - R1744.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
HypertensionHome page
M. Johansson, M. Elam, B. Rundqvist, G. Eisenhofer, H. Herlitz, G. Jensen, and P. Friberg
Differentiated Response of the Sympathetic Nervous System to Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibition in Hypertension
Hypertension, October 1, 2000; 36(4): 543 - 548.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
M. N. Muscara, W. McKnight, F. Lovren, C. R. Triggle, G. Cirino, and J. L. Wallace
Antihypertensive properties of a nitric oxide-releasing naproxen derivative in two-kidney, one-clip rats
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, August 1, 2000; 279(2): H528 - H535.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
HypertensionHome page
E. D. Frohlich
Research Means "Look Back"
Hypertension, March 1, 2000; 35(3): 693 - 693.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol.Home page
L. Moser, J. Faulhaber, R. J. Wiesner, and H. Ehmke
Predominant activation of endothelin-dependent cardiac hypertrophy by norepinephrine in rat left ventricle
Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, May 1, 2002; 282(5): R1389 - R1394.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]