Tinucci T, Abrahao SB, Marcondes M, Mion D Jr
Mild renal insufficiency increases sympathetic nerve activity in humans
11th Scientific Meeting, American Society of Hypertension
Am J Hypert (Apr) 9:46A 1996

A body of data indicates that the sympathetic nerve activity is increased in subjects with end stage renal failure on hemodialysis. No information sympathetic nerve activity is available in subjects with mild renal insufficiency.

These authors studied peroneal nerve microneurographic recordings in 8 patients with renal insufficiency (creatinine 1.9 mg/dl to 5.8 mg/dl), 8 hypertensives and 8 normotensive subjects. Plasma renin activity was also measured in all study participants. The authors found that nerve activity was similar for the groups with renal disease and those with essential hypertension but higher than normotensive subjects. They also found a positive correlation of nerve activity with serum creatinine and plasma renin activity. No mention was made of any relationship with blood pressure.

Comment: These findings are very preliminary and age and concomitant antihypertensive therapy must be considered in such work. A larger study would certainly be worth undertaking. George Mansoor, M.D., University of Connecticut

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11th Scientific Meeting, American Society of Hypertension
H: Pathophysiology : Sympathetic nervous system
H: Pathophysiology : Kidney in hypertension