Open AccessEffect of Ketanserin in Primary Aldosteronism
Author(s) -
Franco Mantero,
Stefano Rocco,
Giuseppe Opocher,
Decio Armanini,
Marco Boscaro,
D. D’Agostino
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
journal of cardiovascular pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.762
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1533-4023
pISSN - 0160-2446
DOI - 10.1097/00005344-198500077-00048
Subject(s) - primary aldosteronism , ketanserin , endocrinology , aldosterone , medicine , metergoline , serotonergic , cyproheptadine , essential hypertension , plasma renin activity , blood pressure , serotonin , 5 ht receptor , renin–angiotensin system , receptor
Serotonin is known to have aldosterone-stimulating properties in humans, which are counteracted by the serotonin-antagonist metergoline. Suppression of aldosterone levels by cyproheptadine in patients with idiopathic aldosteronism has also been shown. Since ketanserin, a more specific 5-HT2-serotoninergic (5-HT2) antagonist, has been shown to affect aldosterone secretion in essential hypertension, we have further investigated this mechanism by injecting ketanserin (10 mg i.v.) in 10 patients with primary aldosteronism (four adenoma, six idiopathic aldosteronism). A transient decrease (20% when compared with the basal levels) of plasma aldosterone was seen at 30 min. A concomitant decrease of plasma cortisol was also noticed, whereas plasma renin activity and potassium did not change. Blood pressure decreased in all cases. These observations suggest that ketanserin acts directly at the adrenal level by interfering with a possible modulatory activity of serotonin. However, an adrenocorticotropic hormone-mediated effect cannot be completely ruled out at the present time.