Biomaterial Database

Cardiovascular responses to circulating catecholamines in normal pregnancy and in pregnancy-induced hypertension. 1985

H Nisell, and P Hjemdahl, and B Linde

Patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) and healthy pregnant and non-pregnant women were compared with regard to cardiovascular responses to i.v. infusions of noradrenaline (NA) and adrenaline (ADR). This resulted in physiologically relevant concentrations in arterial plasma (maximally 10 nmol/litre for NA and 6 nmol/litre for ADR). Non-pregnant women responded to NA with concentration-dependent increases in blood-pressure, which were caused by peripheral vasoconstriction, as systemic vascular resistance (SVR) was increased by 21%. Cardiac output was reduced by 6%. ADR caused concentration-dependent decreases in SVR (to values 36% below basal) and calf vascular resistance (CVR), as well as increases in cardiac output. Healthy pregnant women responded to NA with similar increases in blood-pressure, but this was due to stroke volume-dependent increases in cardiac output (11%) and not due to vasoconstriction. ADR-induced vasodilatation was attenuated in this group. Cardiac responses to ADR were unaffected by pregnancy. PIH patients demonstrated an enhanced systolic blood-pressure response to NA (19% increase vs 7-8% in the other groups) due to the combined effects of vasoconstriction (11% increase in SVR) and an essentially unchanged cardiac output. ADR-induced decreases in CVR and diastolic blood-pressure were similar to those found in the non-pregnant group. Increases in heart rate were less pronounced, but cardiac output increased as normal. These results indicate that normal pregnancy is associated with attenuated vascular responses to circulating catecholamines. PIH patients do not seem to have undergone this normal adaptation of the vascular system to pregnancy.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009638	Norepinephrine	Precursor of epinephrine that is secreted by the ADRENAL MEDULLA and is a widespread central and autonomic neurotransmitter. Norepinephrine is the principal transmitter of most postganglionic sympathetic fibers, and of the diffuse projection system in the brain that arises from the LOCUS CERULEUS. It is also found in plants and is used pharmacologically as a sympathomimetic.	Levarterenol,Levonorepinephrine,Noradrenaline,Arterenol,Levonor,Levophed,Levophed Bitartrate,Noradrenaline Bitartrate,Noradrénaline tartrate renaudin,Norepinephrin d-Tartrate (1:1),Norepinephrine Bitartrate,Norepinephrine Hydrochloride,Norepinephrine Hydrochloride, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine Hydrochloride, (+,-)-Isomer,Norepinephrine d-Tartrate (1:1),Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1),Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1), (+,-)-Isomer,Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1), Monohydrate,Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1), Monohydrate, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:2),Norepinephrine l-Tartrate, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine, (+,-)-Isomer
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D011249	Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular	The co-occurrence of pregnancy and a cardiovascular disease. The disease may precede or follow FERTILIZATION and it may or may not have a deleterious effect on the pregnant woman or FETUS.	Cardiovascular Pregnancy Complications,Complications, Cardiovascular Pregnancy,Pregnancy, Cardiovascular Complications,Cardiovascular Pregnancy Complication,Complication, Cardiovascular Pregnancy,Pregnancies, Cardiovascular Complications,Pregnancy Complication, Cardiovascular
D012016	Reference Values	The range or frequency distribution of a measurement in a population (of organisms, organs or things) that has not been selected for the presence of disease or abnormality.	Normal Range,Normal Values,Reference Ranges,Normal Ranges,Normal Value,Range, Normal,Range, Reference,Ranges, Normal,Ranges, Reference,Reference Range,Reference Value,Value, Normal,Value, Reference,Values, Normal,Values, Reference
D001794	Blood Pressure	PRESSURE of the BLOOD on the ARTERIES and other BLOOD VESSELS.	Systolic Pressure,Diastolic Pressure,Pulse Pressure,Pressure, Blood,Pressure, Diastolic,Pressure, Pulse,Pressure, Systolic,Pressures, Systolic
D002302	Cardiac Output	The volume of BLOOD passing through the HEART per unit of time. It is usually expressed as liters (volume) per minute so as not to be confused with STROKE VOLUME (volume per beat).	Cardiac Outputs,Output, Cardiac,Outputs, Cardiac
D002319	Cardiovascular System	The HEART and the BLOOD VESSELS by which BLOOD is pumped and circulated through the body.	Circulatory System,Cardiovascular Systems,Circulatory Systems
D002395	Catecholamines	A general class of ortho-dihydroxyphenylalkylamines derived from TYROSINE.	Catecholamine,Sympathin,Sympathins
D004837	Epinephrine	The active sympathomimetic hormone from the ADRENAL MEDULLA. It stimulates both the alpha- and beta- adrenergic systems, causes systemic VASOCONSTRICTION and gastrointestinal relaxation, stimulates the HEART, and dilates BRONCHI and cerebral vessels. It is used in ASTHMA and CARDIAC FAILURE and to delay absorption of local ANESTHETICS.	Adrenaline,4-(1-Hydroxy-2-(methylamino)ethyl)-1,2-benzenediol,Adrenaline Acid Tartrate,Adrenaline Bitartrate,Adrenaline Hydrochloride,Epifrin,Epinephrine Acetate,Epinephrine Bitartrate,Epinephrine Hydrochloride,Epinephrine Hydrogen Tartrate,Epitrate,Lyophrin,Medihaler-Epi,Acetate, Epinephrine
D005260	Female		Females