Key result
Glyceryl trinitrate administration in a patient with baroreflex failure resulted in an exaggerated fall in blood pressure and reduced sympathetic activity, supporting a central sympatholytic effect.
Why the study?
Whether part of the blood pressure lowering effects of glyceryl trinitrate is due to centrally mediated reduction in sympathetic activity is debated, as baroreflex activity potentially obscures central sympatholytic effects in humans.
Does glyceryl trinitrate cause central sympatholytic effects in a patient with baroreflex failure?
Case Report (n=1)
Does glyceryl trinitrate cause central sympatholytic effects in a patient with baroreflex failure?
In a patient with baroreflex failure, GTN caused an exaggerated fall in blood pressure and reduced sympathetic activity, suggesting it has a central sympatholytic effect.
Case observation supports central sympatholytic GTN effect; leaves open generalizability to patients with preserved baroreflex function.
Whether part of the blood pressure lowering effects of glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) is the result of centrally mediated reduction in sympathetic activity is debated. In humans, baroreflex activity potentially obscures the central sympatholytic effects of GTN. We examined this in a routine clinical tilt test in a patient with baroreflex failure secondary to previous neck radiotherapy. With reduced baroreflex function we observed an exaggerated fall in blood pressure and reduced sympathetic activity with GTN, supporting a peripheral vasodilation and central sympatholytic effect.
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Tan et al. (2020) conducted a case report in Baroreflex failure (n=1). Glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) was evaluated on Blood pressure and sympathetic activity. Glyceryl trinitrate administration in a patient with baroreflex failure resulted in an exaggerated fall in blood pressure and reduced sympathetic activity, supporting a central sympatholytic effect.
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