Limited reliability of heart rate as a sympathetic marker in chronic kidney disease

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by a pronounced sympathetic overactivity as documented by the marked increase in muscle sympathetic nerve traffic (MSNA) and in plasma norepinephrine reported in this condition. Whether and to what extent in CKD heart rate (HR) reflects the adrenergic overdrive remains undefined. It is also undefined the relative validity of the different adrenergic markers in reflecting renal dysfunction. Materials and methods: In 82 CKD patients, aged 58.4 ± 1.1 years (mean ± SEM), we measured resting clinic blood pressure, HR (EKG), venous NE (HPLC) and MSNA (microneurography). The same measurements were made in 24 age-matched healthy controls. Results: HR was significantly greater in CKD than in controls (74.0 ± 1.1 versus 68.2 ± 1.8 bpm, P 
Source: Journal of Hypertension - Category: Cardiology Tags: ORIGINAL PAPERS: Organ damage Source Type: research