[Sympathico-adrenal system in elderly patients with systolic hypertension]

A study of the catecholamines passage with urine in patients of advanced age with systolic hypertension has revealed features specific for the activity of their sympathico-adrenal-system by comparison with that in patients with hypertensive disease (with systolic-diastolic pressure rise) and in persons of the same age with normal pressure. In systolic hypertension an inhibition of the mediatory link finding its expression in a decreased noradrenaline excretion, was noted, while that of adrenalin remained normal which led to a fall in the ration noradrenaline/adrenalin. Inasmuch as adrenalin causes chiefly the rise of systolic pressure and noradrenaline -- that of diastolic it may be presumed that the established features of the sympathico-adrenalin activity appear to be a factor contributing to the systolic nature of the hypertension under review, which stems primarily from other major pathogenetic factors. At the same time in subjects of advanced age the reactivity of the mediatory link in systolic hypertension remains intact, this manifesting itself in a significantly increased noradrenaline passage, as compared to a low initial level following administration of insulin.