Exaggerated cold‐pressor response in hypertensive patients with superimposed arteriosclerosis

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Abstract
A series of 172 hypertensive patients with excessive cold‐pressor response (elevation of systolic blood pressure more than 30 mm Hg above basal) and 65 hypertensive patients with normal cold‐pressor response (elevation of systolic blood pressure less than 20 mm Hg above basal) was studied. A correlation of the pressor response with various parameters pertaining to the cardiovascular system was made. A highly significant correlation between retinal arteriosclerosis and exaggerated cold‐pressor response was seen. In addition, there was an excellent correlation between the latter and calcification of the aorta and/or its branches. Arteriosclerotic heart disease was much more prevalent among the hyperreactors than among the normoreactors. Elevation in serum cholesterol was also more frequent in the hyperreactors, but it was only seen in a small percentage of cases. The incidence of diabetes mellitus and established diastolic hypertension was also higher in the hyperreactors than in the normoreactors. Obesity was found twice as often in the patients with excessive cold‐pressor response than with normal cold‐pressor response. The results would seem to suggest that exaggerated cold‐pressor response may be related to superimposed systemic vascular sclerosis rather than to hypertension per se.