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Showing papers by "Pierre Larochelle published in 1985"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is suggested that an excessive increase in free DA occurs in response to upright posture, perhaps representing a compensatory reaction of the remaining autonomic nervous system to an excessive fall in blood pressure.

23 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is found that even in the absence of pheochromocytoma, MCP is a catecholamine‐releasing substance, moderately increasing systolic blood pressure and pulse rate, and should be used with caution in p heochromocytes as well as in other forms of hypertension.
Abstract: The catecholamine (CA)-releasing action of metoclopramide (MCP) observed in patients with pheochromocytoma was tested in 20 subjects with essential hypertension and compared with the same effect of glucagon in 10 of them. We found that even in the absence of pheochromocytoma, MCP is a CA-releasing substance, moderately increasing systolic blood pressure and pulse rate. The release of CA is reflected by an increase in concentrations of free norepinephrine and total (free plus sulfated) epinephrine 3 minutes and of total dopamine and norepinephrine 10 minutes after the MCP bolus dose, whereas glucagon had an effect on the release of free epinephrine. Regional catheterization before and after MCP dosing in one subject showed a considerable increase in adrenal epinephrine and norepinephrine concentrations 45 seconds after the MCP bolus dose. MCP has a free CA—releasing potency much like that of glucagon. Because the released free CA is readily sulfoconjugated, the effect on CA release can be more easily detected when conjugated CA is determined. MCP should thus be used with caution in pheochromocytoma as well as in other forms of hypertension. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1985) 37, 372–375; doi:10.1038/clpt.1985.56

22 citations


Journal Article
TL;DR: In light of growing concerns about the cardiovascular complications of hypokalemia, hydrochlorothiazide-amiloride appears preferable to hydrochlorothsiazide alone for the treatment of some patients with hypertension.
Abstract: In a double-blind randomized controlled trial the effects on the blood pressure and the serum potassium concentration of hydrochlorothiazide-amiloride hydrochloride (Moduret) and hydrochlorothiazide alone were compared in 266 adults who were normokalemic and had a diastolic blood pressure greater than 95 mm Hg at the time of entry into the study. The mean ages (52.2 and 53.8 years) and the proportions of men (66% and 56%) in the groups given the combination drug and hydrochlorothiazide alone respectively were similar. In the group given the combination drug the mean blood pressure, measured while the patients were supine, and the mean serum potassium level fell significantly, from 156/99 to 138/88 mm Hg and from 4.23 to 3.91 mmol/L, after 8 weeks of treatment. In the other group both measures also fell significantly, the blood pressure from 157/99 to 138/87 mm Hg and the potassium level from 4.16 to 3.69 mmol/L. The proportions of patients in the two groups with hypokalemia (14% and 29% respectively), defined as a serum potassium level below 3.5 mmol/L, differed significantly (p = 0.0026), whereas the proportions with a potassium level exceeding 4.5 mmol/L (4.5% and 3.9% respectively) were similar. Thus, the combination drug reduced the blood pressure to the same extent as hydrochlorothiazide alone but significantly less often caused hypokalemia. In light of growing concerns about the cardiovascular complications of hypokalemia, hydrochlorothiazide-amiloride appears preferable to hydrochlorothiazide alone for the treatment of some patients with hypertension.

11 citations


Journal Article
TL;DR: Enalapril produced a moderate reduction in both supine and standing blood pressure as well as a significant reduction in angiotensin I-converting enzyme activity, an increase in peripheral plasma renin activity and a decrease in plasma aldosterone concentration 4 to 8 hours after administration of the drug.
Abstract: Enalapril (MK-421) was administered orally as a single dose of 25, 50, 10 and 20 mg to 13 patients with either essential or renovascular hypertension At these doses, enalapril produced a moderate reduction in both supine and standing blood pressure as well as a significant reduction in angiotensin I-converting enzyme activity, an increase in peripheral plasma renin activity and a decrease in plasma aldosterone concentration 4 to 8 hours after administration of the drug Plasma levels of prostaglandins E1 and E2 were unchanged The calculated ratio of urinary Na/K was increased in the patients with renal artery stenosis after enalapril Creatinine clearance was increased in the patients with essential hypertension and reduced in the patients with renal artery stenosis No adverse effects occurred in these patients treated with single doses of enalapril

10 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results suggest that neomycin may have directly affected the gland and it is concluded that some aminoglycosides can alter the disposition of thyroid hormones.
Abstract: Our study was designed to confirm the potential effects of three aminoglycosides on the disposition of thyroid hormones. Twenty-seven patients diagnosed with either cellulitis (n = 19), chronic osteitis (n = 4), or an abscess (n = 4) were selected. Thirteen patients received tobramycin, 60 to 100 mg iv q. 8 h., plus cloxacillin, 1 gm iv q. 4 h.; seven patients received netilmicin, 40 to 120 mg iv q. 8 h., plus cloxacillin, 1 gm iv q. 4 h.; and seven patients received either cloxacillin, 1.5 gm iv q. 4 h., or cefoperazone, 2 to 4 gm iv q. 12 h. for at least 7 days. Another group of six normal subjects received neomycin, 0.5 gm po q. 6 h. for 7 days. All these subjects had normal thyroid function before antibiotic dosing and none had thyroid function abnormalities. Tobramycin and cloxacillin/cefoperazone did not influence thyroid function. Netilmicin decreased the total serum concentrations of triiodothyronine (T3) from 114 +/- 9 to 75 +/- 7 ng/dl (P less than 0.01), probably because of increased clearance, as the T3 free fraction increased from 0.43% +/- 0.02% to 0.49% +/- 0.02% (P less than 0.05). Thyroxine (T4) and reverse T3 (rT3) levels were not affected. Neomycin decreased T3 levels from 104 +/- 8 to 92 +/- 7 ng/dl (P less than 0.05) and the serum concentrations of thyroglobulin from 17.3 +/- 2.0 to 11.7 +/- 2.0 ng/ml (P less than 0.001). Because T4 and rT3 levels did not change, our results suggest that neomycin may have directly affected the gland. We conclude that some aminoglycosides can alter the disposition of thyroid hormones.

3 citations