Age Dependence of the Levels of Plasma Norepinephrine, Aldosterone, Renin Activity and Urinary Vanillylmandelic Acid in Normal and Essential Hypertensives

Abstract

In the present study the upper reference limits (URLs) for resting plasma norepinephrine, epinephrine, serum aldosterone, plasma renin activity, aldosterone/ renin activity ratio, as well as urinary vanillylmandelic acid in healthy Egyptian normotensive subjects over a range of ages (5-60 yr) were established. There was a significant age effect on plasma norepinephrine, UVMA, serum aldosterone and PRA, whereas a single URL for plasma epinephrine level is satisfactory. In uncomplicated untreated essential hypertensive subjects (5-60 yr), the average prevalence of elevation in the plasma norepinephrine, epinephrine and urinary vanillylmandelic acid above their corresponding URLs was 85.10,62.15 and 83.20 %, respectively. This suggests that elevation in plasma catecholamine concentrations is more likely a common consequence than playing a possible role in the pathogenesis of hypertension, supported by insignificant correlation coefficients between the plasma catecholamine levels and resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure values (SBP&DBP) in all hypertensive age groups. Primary hyperaldosteronism was not detected among the normokalemic essential hypertensives at any age using aldosterone /plasma renin activity ratio as a primary screening method. In the present study, 7 statistically significant positive coefficient correlations are reported for SBP or DBP values with UVMA levels in hypertensive children and adolescents, serum aldosterone in old hypertensives, and PRA in adult hypertensives.

Screening for primary aldosteronism in an argentinian population: a multicenter prospective study

“…This is consistent with findings reported by other authors evaluating normotensive subjects (30) and hypertensive patients (31), but it differs from other author's reports (32), where both ALD and PRA were found to decrease with age.…”

The development of monoaminergic neurotransmitter systems in childhood and adolescence

“…Another study showed that starting ages 5–10, there was also a drop in plasma levels until the 11–15 age group, before finally moving beyond childrens’ level values to increase until ages 40–60. (Abd‐Allah et al, 2004). Overall these results indicate a u‐shaped progression of the norepinephrinergic levels in plasma with an initial sharp decline at the infant and early toddler age until reaching a lowest point at the start of puberty, followed by a subsequent gentle increase until reaching adulthood.…”

Combined use of direct renin inhibitor and carvedilol in heart failure with preserved systolic function

“…Aldosterone is also a part of the RAAS and has potent pro-fibrotic properties [19]. Serum aldosterone levels increase with age and are thought to be the cause of increased myocardial fibrosis in the elderly [20][21][22].…”