The role of renin and catecholamine production in postcarotid endarterectomy hypertension.

Correlation between increased cranial and peripheral norepinephrines and increased cranial to systemic renin ratio has been observed in a small number of patients with postcarotid endarterectomy hypertension. In an effort to confirm these findings, we studied cranial and peripheral levels of catecholamines and peripheral renin activity in 120 consecutive carotid endarterectomies. Samples were taken before carotid clamping (Sample I) and just after clamp release (Sample II). Norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine values did not correlate with postcarotid endarterectomy hypertension. There was no association between peripheral renin values and postcarotid endarterectomy hypertension.