Exaggerated blood pressure response to exercise is associated with augmented rise of angiotensin II during exercise

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between an exaggerated blood pressure (BP) response to exercise and augmented angiotensin (Ang) II rise during exercise. BACKGROUND: Although a central pressor effect of Ang II has been implicated in the pathogenesis of hypertension, the relationship between Ang II and exaggerated BP response to exercise is unclear. METHODS: Thirty-six subjects with an exaggerated BP response to exercise (18 men, age 50 +/- 16 years, Group II) were compared with 36 age- and gender-matched control subjects (18 men, age 50 +/- 16 years, Group I) with normal BP reactivity. The subjects who had resting BP >or=140/90 mm Hg or were treated with any antihypertensive drugs were excluded. The blood was sampled at rest and immediately after peak exercise for measurement of renin, Ang II, aldosterone, and catecholamine. RESULTS: At rest, there were no significant differences in BP, renin, aldosterone, and catecholamine levels between the 2 groups. The renin, aldosterone, and catecholamine were increased during exercise, but there were no significant differences between the groups. However, log Ang II at rest (0.78 +/- 0.32 vs. 0.98 +/- 0.38, p = 0.004) and peak exercise (0.84 +/- 0.35 vs. 1.17 +/- 0.51, p < 0.001) and the magnitude of the increment of log Ang II with exercise (0.06 +/- 0.12 vs. 0.19 +/- 0.20, p = 0.003) were significantly higher in the exaggerated BP response group.CONCLUSIONS: An exaggerated BP response to exercise was associated with augmented rise of Ang II during exercise.ope