Changes in blood pressure and vascular reactivity in normotensives following regular alcohol consumption

Blood pressure and vascular reactivity to infusions of noradrenaline and angiotensin II (ANG II) were measured in 10 normotensive volunteers who had consumed 80 g alcohol per day for 4 days after a similar period of abstaining from alcohol. Supine systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate, and erect systolic blood pressures rose significantly following alcohol. Vascular reactivity to noradrenaline decreased following alcohol, while reactivity to ANG II did not change in a consistent manner. Although plasma noradrenaline levels did not alter following alcohol, the decrease in vascular reactivity to noradrenaline may indicate down-regulation of alpha-receptors and provide indirect evidence that increased sympathetic activity contributes to the rise in blood pressure that follows regular, moderate alcohol consumption.