Key result
Oral contraceptive use was associated with significant, parallel increases in dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity and mean arterial pressure, with 17% of users becoming frankly hypertensive.
Why the study?
Does oral contraceptive use increase blood pressure via sympathetic nervous system activation (reflected by DBH activity)?
Cohort (n=53)
Does oral contraceptive use increase blood pressure via sympathetic nervous system activation (reflected by DBH activity)?
Oral contraceptive-induced hypertension may be driven by inappropriate sympathetic nervous system activation, as evidenced by parallel increases in blood pressure and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity.
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Supports SNS activation in OC-related hypertension; leaves open causality and need for trials before practice change.
Rockson et al. (1975) conducted a cohort in Oral contraceptive-induced hypertension (n=53). Oral contraceptives vs. Control patients (non-users) was evaluated on Changes in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) activity. Oral contraceptive use was associated with significant, parallel increases in dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity and mean arterial pressure, with 17% of users becoming frankly hypertensive.
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