Selective infusion of tertatolol into the renal artery induces a local vasodilator effect in humans. Demonstration by the continuous thermodilution method.

Abstract

The effects of tertatolol on renal circulation were studied in 8 patients with normal renal function. Left renal blood flow was measured by the continuous thermodilution method before (t0), and 5 (t1), 10 (t2) and 20 (t3) min after a selective infusion of 0.25 mg of tertatolol into the left renal artery. During the study, cardiac output, heart rate, aortic and right atrial pressures, systemic vascular resistances and the systemic arteriovenous oxygen difference were not significantly altered. Plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone in arterial and renal venous blood started to decrease at t1. At t3, renal blood flow was increased (from 463 +/- 28 mL/min at t0, to 549 +/- 22 mL/min, P less than .001), renal vascular resistance was reduced (from 188 +/- 17 mm Hg/L/min at t0 to 156 +/- 15 mm Hg/L/min, P less than .01) and the arteriovenous oxygen difference was decreased (from 1.6 +/- 0.2 mL/100 mL at t0 to 1.1 +/- 0.1 100 mL, P less than .01). The renal/cardiac flow ratio increased from 10.0 +/- 2.2% to 11.7 +/- 2.1% (P less than .05) and the renal/systemic vascular resistance ratio decreased from 10.5 +/- 2.0 to 8.7 +/- 1.4 (P less than .01). These data show that selective infusion of a low dose of tertatolol into the renal artery results in an increase in renal blood flow which is delayed and occurs without concomitant changes in systemic hemodynamics. This suggests an intrarenal mechanism of action in humans supporting the previously observed renal vasodilation induced by tertatolol in isolated perfused animal kidneys.