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The role of epinephrine in the circulatory effects of coffee
Author(s) -
Smits P,
Pieters G,
Thien T
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.941
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1532-6535
pISSN - 0009-9236
DOI - 10.1038/clpt.1986.203
Subject(s) - epinephrine , plasma renin activity , blood pressure , pressor response , norepinephrine , medicine , aldosterone , heart rate , endocrinology , renin–angiotensin system , circulatory system , adrenalectomy , diastole , anesthesia , dopamine
The circulatory response to coffee was studied in 10 normotensive, 10 bilaterally adrenalectomized, and 10 hypertensive subjects. In the normotensive group, drinking coffee exerted a rise in blood pressure (+ 5.1/+11.5 mm Hg), a fall in heart rate (– 6.0 bpm), a rise in plasma epinephrine (+ 257.2%), and no change in plasma norepinephrine. The response to coffee in the hypertensive group was similar or even enhanced. In the patients who had undergone adrenalectomy, the coffee‐induced rise of diastolic blood pressure was attenuated (+ 7.9 mm Hg; P < 0.05), whereas plasma norepinephrine showed a fall (– 20.8%) and plasma epinephrine remained undetectable throughout all tests. Additionally, a fall of plasma renin activity after coffee was observed in all three groups. We conclude that the pressor response to coffee is not purely a result of circulating epinephrine or to stimulation of the renin‐angiotensin‐aldosterone system. On the other hand, the coffee‐induced increase of plasma epinephrine may increase the pressor response to coffee. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1986) 40, 431–437; doi: 10.1038/clpt.1986.203