Pressor factors and cardiovascular pressor responsiveness in borderline hypertension

The role of various pressor factors and cardiovascular responsiveness to norepinephrine or angiotensin II in the pathogenesis of borderline hypertension was evaluated. Exchangeable body sodium, blood volume, plasma renin activity, norepinephrine or dopamine levels, and norepinephrine or epinephrine excretion rates were similar between 24 patients with borderline hypertension (mean age 34 +/- 4 (SEM) years and 22 normal subjects matched for age; the patients had a slight increase in supine plasma epinephrine. Pressor doses of norepinephrine or angiotensin II were significantly lower (p less than 0.01 and 0.001, respectively) in the borderline hypertensive group. These findings suggest that borderline hypertension may be maintained by inappropriately increased cardiovascular response to norepinephrine and angiotensin II in the presence of normal sympathetic and renin activity and a normal body sodium-volume state.