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Increased suppression of exercise‐induced increase in renin by propranolol in Chinese subjects
Author(s) -
Zhou HongHao,
Wood Alastair J J
Publication year - 1991
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.1991.119
Subject(s) - propranolol , plasma renin activity , medicine , renin–angiotensin system , endocrinology , pharmacology , blood pressure
Sensitivity to the hypotensive effect of propranolol differs between Chinese subjects and white subjects. To explore the pharmacodynamic explanation for this difference, eight Chinese subjects (age range, 25 to 42 years) and eight white subjects (age range, 22 to 36 years) were given single doses of 10, 20, 40, and 80 mg propranolol on separate occasions at least 3 days apart. Heart rate, mean blood pressure, norepinephrine, epinephrine, and plasma renin activity were measured at the end of treadmill exercise 2 hours after medication was administered. Propranolol produced a concentration‐dependent reduction in mean blood pressure and heart rate in both groups. Concentration‐response curves were shifted significantly to the left in Chinese subjects, confirming the increased sensitivity to propranolol of the Chinese. The baseline exercise plasma renin activity was twofold higher ( p < 0.05) in Chinese than in white subjects. The sensitivity to β‐blockade—induced suppression of plasma renin activity was increased in the Chinese, which resulted in a sevenfold higher concentration being required in white subjects than in Chinese to produce the same 50% suppression of exercise plasma renin activity (84.8 ± 23.2 versus 12.7 ± 7.4 ng/ml, p < 0.05). The reduction in exercise heart rate and mean blood pressure produced by propranolol were well correlated to the reduction in exercise plasma renin activity in both populations. There was no significant effect of either race or propranolol on plasma catecholamine concentration after exercise. The findings indicate that the previously demonstrated higher sensitivity to β‐blockade produced by propranolol also extends to the β ‐receptor—mediated effect on renin activity and this increased sensitivity to plasma renin activity suppression in Chinese subjects may partially explain their increased sensitivity to the hypotensive effects of propranolol. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1991) 50, 150–156; doi: 10.1038/clpt.1991.119