Alpha adrenergic blockade by prazosin in therapy of essential hypertension

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
To elucidate the mechanism of action of prazosin in lowering the blood pressure, the vascular pressor responsiveness to the infusion of norepinephrine [NE] and angiotensin [AII] were studied before and after prazosin in patients with essential hypertension. After prazosin, the pressor response to the .alpha.-agonist NE was markedly attenuated, but the vascular reactivity to AII was unchanged. There was a 3-fold increment in the dose of NE required to elicit a 20 mm Hg rise in diastolic blood pressure after prazosin therapy. Prazosin induces significant .alpha.-adrenergic blockade during the treatment of essential hypertension.