TREATMENT OF HYPERTENSION. AN EVALUATION OF ALPHA-METHYLDOPA

In a study utilizing an alternating double blind technique 15 patients were given alphamethyldopa in divided doses of 1 gram daily alone and in combination with a benzothiadiazine diuretic. The average blood pressure of patients receiving the drug alone was 157/90 mm of mercury, against the placebo control of 195/109 mm. The average blood pressure of patients receiving the drug in combination with a benzothiadiazine diuretic was 164/98 mm; in the control with placebo plus benzothiadiazine diuretic, it was 169/104 mm. Alpha-methyldopa appeared to be effective in reducing blood pressure in patients with benign essential hypertension.

Allocation of cardiac output to limb and kidney during hypotensive procedures

Cardiac output, and renal and femoral venous outflows were measured simultaneously and continuously by rotameters during hemorrhage and inferior vena caval obstruction. Acute reductions in cardiac output resulted in an immediate increased femoral and renal fraction of the cardiac output, the femoral increasing more than the renal. Further augmentation of the femoral flow fraction with reduction of the renal flow fraction was accomplished by baroreceptor area denervation or guanethidine. Following guanethidine-induced reduction of sympathetic vasoconstrictor activity of the femoral bed, the femoral flow pattern was converted to a renal flow pattern. The partition of cardiac output during acute hypotensive procedures in this experimental setting was determined by differential vasoconstrictor activity, possibly by neurohumoral agents which selectively influence certain vascular beds, and by an intrinsic property of the blood vessel wall which determines in part its response to acute reduction in flow.