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Pheochromocytoma
Author(s) -
BRAVO EMMANUEL L.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2002.tb04408.x
Subject(s) - pheochromocytoma , medicine , pathophysiology , blockade , adrenergic beta antagonists , intensive care medicine , paraganglioma , pathology , propranolol , receptor
A bstract : Pheochromocytoma and paragangliomas are rare tumors of chromaffin tissue that secrete catecholamines either intermittently or continuously, producing hypertension with a constellation of symptoms and signs that can be frightening to the patient and that continue to provide perplexing problems for clinicians. With surgical treatment, symptoms will be relieved and hypertension normalized or ameliorated for patients who do not have malignant tumors. Appropriate antihypertensive drugs are used to manage hypertension, to control associated cardiovascular symptoms, and to prepare patients for operation. The question debated most often regarding medical therapy of pheochromocytoma is whether antihypertensive treatment regimens other than nonspecific alpha‐blockade are just as effective and safe. Understanding the pathophysiologic mechanisms that sustain the hypertension and the pharmacology of antihypertensive agents allows better selection of antihypertensive therapy.