[Non-invasive study of the role of carotid distension in the baroreflex response to the arteriolar vasodilator cadralazine in essential hypertension].

Using pulsed Doppler methods, hemodynamics of the common carotid and the brachial arteries were measured in 10 patients with essential hypertension. After vasodilatation due to Cadralazine, a Dihydralazine-like substance, mean arterial pressure significantly decreased and heart rate increased. Change in PRA was significantly and positively correlated with the change in heart rate. In the brachial artery circulation, diameter and vascular resistance decreased while blood flow velocity and volumic blood flow did not increase significantly. In the common carotid artery circulation, diameter, mean blood flow did not change. However, vascular resistance and tangential tension decreased slightly. The increase in heart rate was strongly and negatively correlated (r = 0.82 p less than 0.01) with the change in the carotid artery tangential tension (measured as the product between mean arterial pressure and arterial radius) while no comparable correlation was observed with the change in blood pressure or arterial radius alone. The study suggested that in essential hypertensives, modifications in the carotid artery tangential tension secondary to arteriolar vasodilatation contribute actively to the baroreflex response.