A comparison of catecholamine concentrations and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activities in plasma from normotensive subjects and from patients with essential hypertension at rest and during exercise.

In 8 normotensive subjects and in 8 patients with essential hypertension total catecholamine content and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) activity in plasma were measured at rest and during physical exercise. Catecholamine levels at rest were significantly higher in the hypertensive than in the normotensive persons whereas the 2 groups of subjects did not differ in DBH activity at rest. At a work load of 150 watts there was a more pronounced increase of the catecholamine concentrations and of the DBH activity in the hypertensive patients than in the normotensives. One may conclude from the data that there is an increased sympathetic nerve activity in patients with essential hypertension.