Redistribution of Cardiac Output to the Kidneys during Oral Nadolol Administration

ALTHOUGH it has been demonstrated repeatedly that propranolol and other beta-blocking agents diminish heart rate and cardiac output, the role of these effects in determining regional perfusion under clinical conditions is not clear. Several studies have indicated that these agents may decrease renal plasma flow and adversely affect glomerular filtration rate.1 2 3 4 5 Rarely have both systemic and renal hemodynamic changes been evaluated together, leaving open the question of whether changes in renal blood flow passively follow the fall in cardiac output or reflect other mechanisms.In contrast, early studies using intravenous injections of nadolol in sodium-restricted hypertensive subjects demonstrated a rise . . .