Serum dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity in essential hypertension and in chronic renal failure with hypertension

Elevated serum DBH (dopamine-beta-hydroxylase) activity was found in essential hypertension. The elevated level was not reduced when blood pressure was brought to normotensive level by administration of thiazide or rauwolfia. In contrast, serum DBH activity was low in both normotensive and hypertensive patients treated on prolonged hemodialysis. However, there was no correlation between serum DBH activity and blood pressure level. It was suggested that the pathogenesis of high blood pressure might be different between essential hypertension and hypertension with chronic renal failure, and that measurement of serum DBH activity might help for clinical differentiation of essential hypertension from certain forms of secondary hypertension.