[Features of dopaminergic system function in menopausal females with arterial hypertension]

Assessment of dopaminergic activity by changes in urine excretion of dopamine, arterial hypertension, blood prolactine, 24-h diuresis and natriuresis in response to a single (2.5 mg) and 7-day (daily dose 5 mg) administration of parlodel in patients with essential hypertension (EH) in menopausal and reproductive age having different serum levels of estrogens.

The indices of 52 hypertensive menopausal women and of 18 women at reproductive age of whom 8 had hypothalamic syndrome were followed up.

A single dose parlodel (bromocriptine) in the dose 2.5 mg 2 hours after its administration caused a significant fall in arterial pressure, rise in 24-h diuresis in hypertensive menopausal women (p < 0.01). Parlodel given in a daily dose 5 mg for 7 days in menopausal hypertensive women lowered a significant fall in arterial pressure, blood concentrations of aldosteron, prolactin, aroused dopamine and urinary sodium excretion (p < 0.01). Similar were the changes in hypertensive women at reproductive age with hypothalamic syndrome (n = 8). In such women free of hypothalamic impairment the changes did not occur (n = 10). A significant positive correlation was found between serum levels of prolactine and estradiol in all the hypertensive women in menopause.

Deficiency of dopaminergic activity in menopause is induced by hypoestrogenemia correlating with serum levels of prolactin. This deficiency was identified in hypertensive menopausal women by the results of acute and prolonged tests with dopamine mimetic--parlodel.