[Correlations between catecholamines and prostaglandins in patients with primary arterial hypertension and pheochromocytoma in basic conditions and after administration of clonidine]. / Wspólzaleznosc miedzy katecholaminami i prostaglandynami u chorych z nadcisnieniem tetniczym pierwotnym i z guzem chromochlonnym w warunkach podstawowych i po klonidynie.

Authors assessed correlation between venous blood catecholamines and prostaglandins concentrations before and after inhibition of sympathetic activity by clonidine in patients with primary hypertension or pheochromocytoma. 30 patients with essential uncomplicated hypertension and 11 with pheochromocytoma underwent the study. The control group consisted of 6 healthy volunteers. Serum norepinephrine (NA), epinephrine (A), prostaglandins: PGE2 PGF2 alpha and prostacyclin metabolite -6-keto-PGF1 alpha were determined before and 3 hours after oral administration of 0.3 mg clonidine. Negative correlation was stated between basic serum norepinephrine and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha concentrations in patients with pheochromocytoma, which could indicate prostacyclin metabolism disorders during persistent hypercatecholaminemia . There was no correlation between catecholamines and prostaglandins during the inhibition of sympathetic activity in patients with pheochromocytoma as well as essential hypertension. The positive correlation was observed between changes in serum NA and PGF2 alpha levels in patients with borderline hypertension. Thus, one may suppose, that correlation between na excretion and vasoconstrictive PGF2 proved in acute experiments, becomes evident within the early stage of hypertension also during sympathetic activity inhibition.

Iodine intake and goiter incidence among schoolchildren living in Warsaw Region (Warsaw and Ciechanów Voivodships--Warsaw coordinating center).

The results of study concerning iodine deficiency among children attending primary schools in Warsaw and Ciechanów voivodships have been presented. The study was a part of a nationwide program on iodine prophylactics and incidence of goiter in Poland. Altogether 675 children, 356 girls and 319 boys of age between 6 and 13 years, were included into the study. Of these, 337 inhibited urban, and 338 rural areas. The presence of goiter was found in 48.6% of the studied population. In 60% of the affected children the degree of thyroid enlargement was small (IB). The incidence of goiter was higher in rural than in urban children and higher in girls than in boys. In above 90% goiter was of the diffuse type. In almost 65% of cases the diagnosis of goiter by palpation was confirmed by ultrasonography. The urinary concentration of iodine was low in 85% of the children studied. This was true for 88% of children with goiter and for 83% of children with normal size of the thyroid. Only 12% of the children studied used iodinated salt in the diet. The use of iodinated salt was more popular among urban children than among the rural ones. Low urinary concentration of iodine was found both in children not consuming and in the majority of those consuming iodinated salt. The individual iodine prophylactics had no effect on the incidence of goiter. The results obtained indicate the presence of iodine deficiency in the studied region suggesting urgent need for informative action explaining the existing situation and necessity of undertaking the widespread and effective prophylactic measures.

[Test with clonidine for diagnosing pheochromocytoma]. / Test z klonidyna w rozpoznawaniu guza chromochlonnego.

Noradrenaline, adrenaline and mean arterial pressure prior to and 3 hours after clonidine administration were evaluated in order to assess a value of single dose of 0.3 mg clonidine in the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. The study involved 12 patients with pheochromocytoma, 17 patients with arterial hypertension, and 9 patients with borderline hypertension. Seven healthy volunteers served as a control group. It was found that clonidine decreased noradrenaline levels in all healthy subjects and patients with the primary blood hypertension and did not affect noradrenaline levels in patients with pheochromocytoma. Clonidine decreased noradrenaline levels in two patients with normal resting noradrenaline levels. Simultaneously, clonidine decreased noradrenaline levels in two patients with normal resting levels of this catecholamine. The obtained results indicate low specificity of the clonidine test and its value in the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma in patients with normal noradrenaline blood levels.

Plasma beta-endorphins and catecholamines before and after clonidine in essential hypertension and pheochromocytoma.

To investigate the possible release of beta-endorphins (beta EN) from tumors and to investigate their possible involvement in the hypotensive mechanism of clonidine (CLO) in pheochromocytoma (PHEO), as compared with essential hypertension (EH), we studied 12 patients with PHEO, 17 patients with uncomplicated stable EH (SEH), nine patients with borderline EH (BEH), and seven healthy volunteers (N). All subjects were hospitalized and excreted normal amounts of sodium. Mean blood pressure (MAP) and plasma beta EN, norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E), and dopamine (DA) were measured before and 180 min after an oral dose of 0.3 mg CLO. Following CLO, a significant (p less than 0.01) decrease in MAP was present in all groups. Plasma NE and E decreased (p less than 0.02 to p less than 0.01) in N, BEH, and SEH, but not in PHEO. DA did not change in any group. Pretreatment beta EN did not differ significantly between the groups, and following CLO it did not change in N or PHEO, while it increased significantly in BEH (p less than 0.01) and in SEH (p less than 0.02). Absolute changes in MAP correlated with those of beta EN only in the SEH group. Changes in NE or E did not correlate with changes in MAP in either group. Likewise, changes in NE or E were not correlated with those of beta EN, in N or EH, but a correlation between resting plasma E and resting beta EN concentrations was demonstrated in PHEO. These results support a role of beta EN in the hypotensive action of CLO in EH, but not in N or PHEO.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)