Epinephrine and Norepinephrine Pattern in Elderly Patients with Borderline and Established Hypertension

To evaluate the activity of sympathetic system and of plasm renin in elderly patients with borderline (BH) and established essential hypertension (EH), 31 BH mean age 38 years and 30 EH, mean age 39 years; 15 BH, mean age 66 years, and 15 EH, mean age 68 years, were studied at rest and after dynamic exercise. At the same time blood pressure and heart rate were automatically recorded, while blood samples were collected for PRA and plasma epinephrine (E) and norepinephrine (NE) assays. Plasma E levels showed no significant differences between the groups examined at rest. Nevertheless, young BH had higher plasma E levels than young EH after stress and elderly BH showed plasma E levels higher t…