Why the study?
Does amlodipine alter baroreflex sensitivity and sympathetic nervous system activity in patients with mild-to-moderate essential hypertension?
Does amlodipine alter baroreflex sensitivity and sympathetic nervous system activity in patients with mild-to-moderate essential hypertension?
Amlodipine effectively lowers blood pressure and reduces blood pressure variability without causing reflex sympathetic nervous system activation in patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension.
Reassures against reflex sympathetic activation with amlodipine; extends RCT evidence on autonomic neutrality in hypertension.
To investigate the effect of amlodipine on baroreflex sensitivity and sympathetic system activity, 36 patients with essential hypertension were randomized to once-daily, double-blind treatment with amlodipine 5 mg or placebo 5 mg for 60 days. Measurements with a Finapres device allowed calculation of baroreflex sensitivity and blood pressure (BP) variability. Adrenergic activity was assessed via measurements of lymphocyte beta2-adrenoceptors and plasma catecholamine concentrations. Compared with placebo, amlodipine significantly decreased BP, but did not significantly alter baroreflex sensitivity. Spectral analysis of Finapres data showed that, compared with placebo, amlodipine decreased the variability of systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and RR interval in the low frequency band. There were no simultaneous changes in adrenergic function, however, suggesting that these effects of amlodipine were not mediated via sympathetic nervous system activation.
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J. P. Siché (2001) studied this question.
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