Hypertension, Vol 8, 489-496, Copyright © 1986 by American Heart Association
Prostaglandin E2 analogue elicits renal and hormonal compensatory mechanisms in human hypertension
BD Given, NA Vita, HR Black, C Francis, K Lasseter, RL Morray, C Mickiewicz, J Akester, K Koury and VJ Dzau
Endogenous prostaglandin E2 appears to play an important role in
cardiovascular homeostasis. When administered exogenously, it is a potent
vasodilator, but the requirement for intravenous administration and its
short duration of action have limited studies to its acute effects. A novel
prostaglandin E2 analogue, CL 115347, can be administered transdermally on
a long-term basis. The cardiovascular responses to the chronic
administration of CL 115347 were studied in a double-blind,
placebo-controlled trial in 26 subjects with essential hypertension (16
given drug, 10 placebo) maintained on a 100-mEq sodium diet. Administration
of CL 115347 produced a fall in diastolic blood pressure of 7.8 +/- 1.3 mm
Hg, compared with a 2.3 +/- 1.7 mm Hg fall in controls (p = 0.02), with no
change in heart rate. The direct vascular effect of the drug was confirmed
by attenuation of the vasoconstrictor response to angiotensin II infusion
(13.4 +/- 3.1 vs 21 +/- 2 mm Hg at 3.0 ng/kg/min; p less than 0.05).
However, the chronic blood pressure effect of CL 115347 was modest.
Subjects receiving active drug showed significant compensatory increases in
plasma renin, aldosterone, and norepinephrine levels accompanied by sodium
retention and kaliuresis. In summary, chronic administration of this
prostaglandin E2 analogue resulted in a modest decrease in blood pressure
and antagonism of angiotensin II-mediated vasoconstriction. However, its
effects were largely offset by compensatory increases in vasoconstrictor
hormones and sodium retention.