Partial correction of hypertension by angiotensin II blockade in a patient with phaeochromocytoma.

This case report describes a patient with malignant hypertension and phaeochromocytoma in whom blockade of angiotensin II receptors by the competitive antagonist 1-sar-8-ala-angiotensin II (Saralasin) resulted in a partial correction of the elevated BP. Plasma renin activity was high and rose further during the blockade. Competitive inhibition of angiotensin II by Saralasin does not abolish the pressor effect of catecholamines. It was therefore interesting to observe that in this patient with phaeochromocytoma, independently, both alpha-adrenergic receptor blockade and angiotensin II receptor blockade were effective in lowering BP.