Scientists discover better treatment for hypertension

Scientists discover better treatment for hypertension

New and more effective treatment for high blood pressure could be on the way , what with the discovery that the nitric oxide that regulates blood pressure is formed in the nerves rather than in the walls of blood vessels .
The study was published in the journal Hypertension .
Researchers at the King ’ s College London had built on previous work that established the fundamental role that nitric oxide plays in regulating blood pressure .
The study , which was supported by funds from the British Heart Foundation, the National Institute for Health Research , Biomedical Research Centre at Guy ’ s and St . Thomas ’ NHS Foundation Trust and King ’ s College London , treated healthy human subjects with a drug that prevented an enzyme in the nerves from producing nitric oxide .
Once the enzyme had stopped producing nitric oxide , the team were able to measure the impact the gas from that source had.
To their surprise , reducing production of nitric oxide led to a significant increase in the force that opposed the flow of blood , known as vascular resistance , and blood pressure itself .
The Chair of Cardiology at King ’ s College Hospital and lead scientist on the trial at King ’ s College London , Prof . Ajay Shah , said : “ We used an inhibitor drug to stop an enzyme in the nerves from producing nitric oxide .
“ While we suspected that stopping this enzyme would have some effect , we were surprised at how much influence it has on blood pressure .
“ Our discovery will fundamentally change the way we view the regulation of blood pressure , because , until now, most blood pressure drugs had focussed on other pathways .
“ Establishing that nerves releasing nitric oxide influence blood pressure , provides a new target for drugs and could eventually lead to more effective treatments for patients. ”
Associate Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation, Prof . Jeremy Pearson , noted that , “Understanding how blood pressure is regulated is crucial if we hope to develop new potential treatments to lower it.
“ This study adds a very unexpected piece to the puzzle of blood pressure regulation .
“ While there are already many treatments for high blood pressure , they are not always effective .
“ These results provide hope of new treatments for people with poorly controlled high blood pressure , which could prove crucial in preventing a heart attack or stroke . ”