Water immersion induced alterations of plasma adrenaline and noradrenaline levels in patients with endstage renal failure (CRF) and in healthy persons.

Water immersion (WI) induced alterations of adrenaline and noradrenaline levels were examined in 20 patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) and 15 healthy persons. In patients with CRF a significantly elevated mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), a markedly elevated plasma level of adrenaline but only a slightly elevated concentration of plasma noradrenaline were observed as compared with healthy persons. In all examined groups WI induced significant decrease of mean arterial pressure and plasma adrenaline and noradrenaline levels. In patients with CRF the WI induced a decrease of MAP and of plasma adrenaline was significantly more marked, while that of plasma noradrenaline was significantly less than in healthy persons. Results presented in this study suggest the existence of an impaired function of the sympathetic nervous system, mainly of the beta-adrenergic one in CRF.