This study was undertaken to assess the importance of an elevated cardiac output in the generation of the hypertension associated with chronic renal failure. Forty stable uremic patients on a program of maintenance hemodialysis underwent hemodynamic studies. Cardiac index measured by dye dilution was found to be significantly elevated. Calculated peripheral vascular resistance was normal despite elevated blood pressure. Six patients underwent serial hemodynamic studies over a period of 6 to 12 weeks while being transfused with packed red blood cells to a normal hematocrit. Blood volume and body weight were constant during the study period. Cardiac index decreased during transfusion, reaching a normal level at a hematocrit of 30%. Diastolic blood pressure progressively rose, averaging an increase of 20 mm Hg at a hematocrit of 40%. Peripheral vascular resistance increased by 80% at a hematocrit of 40%. We concluded that the elevation of cardiac index in uremic patients is secondary to anemia and is reversible when the hematocrit is raised over 30%. The high cardiac index is not responsible for hypertension because restoration of cardiac index to normal by transfusion raises blood pressure rather than lowers it.

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SUMMARYThis study was undertaken to define the hemodynamic changes in hypertension of chronic end-stage renal disease. Mean cardiac index in 75 uremic patients was higher (P < 0.001) than that of 42 normal volunteers while stroke index was not different from normals. The higher cardiac indices of uremic patients were accounted for by increased heart rates. Despite the significantly higher blood pressure in the uremics, their mean total peripheral resistance index was not different from that of normals.The total group of 75 patients included 52 hypertensive and 23 normotensive uremics. Cardiac index, heart rate, and stroke index were the same in 52 hypertensive and 23 normotensive uremics while mean total peripheral resistance index of hypertensive uremics was higher (P < 0.001) than normotensive uremics. Therefore, the hypertension in end-stage renal disease is sustained by a high total peripheral resistance.Bilateral nephrectomy in 12 hypertensive uremics resulted in no changes in cardiac index; a consistent decrease in blood pressure (P <0.001) and a decrease in total peripheral resistance index (P < 0.001) occurred. Bilateral nephrectomy in eight additional uremics with malignant hypertension resulted in an actual increase in cardiac index (P < 0.001) with a consistent reduction in blood pressures (P < 0.001) and an even more dramatic decrease in total peripheral resistance (P < 0.001).These findings imply that a vasopressor substance of renal origin increasing peripheral resistance is the major factor in the pathophysiology of renal hypertension in the late stage

Catapres is a new imidazoline compound with potent antihypertensive properties. Significant reduction in blood pressure occurs between 1 and 4 hours after oral administration, with the peak effect occurring at 2 to 4 hours and the antihypertensive effect extending for 6 to 10 hours. Blood pressure is reduced in both the supine and erect positions, although the orthostatic response is the more prominent.Cardiac output is reduced moderately in both the supine and erect positions. Peripheral vascular resistance is also reduced, particularly in the erect posture. Accordingly,

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