Humoral mechanisms in the pathogenesis of postprandial hypotension in patients with essential hypertension.

Abstract

In patients with essential hypertension, a marked decline in postprandial systolic blood pressure is associated with lower postprandial levels of norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine as compared to subjects without postprandial hypotension. This indicates that impaired sympatho-adrenal activation after ingestion of a meal may contribute to the development of PPH. Insulin appears not to be involved in the pathogenesis of postprandial hypotension.