Sympathetic nervous systems in chronic hypoxic states from pulmonary tuberculosis: a clinical study on plasma norepinephrine and cyclic AMP levels.

To evaluate the sympathetic nervous activity in chronic hypoxic states, the plasma concentrations of norepinephrine (NE), cyclic adenosine 3', 5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP), cyclic guanosine 3', 5'-monophosphate (cyclic GMP) and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) enzyme activity were measured in 32 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and 30 normal volunteers. Moreover, the peripheral arterial-venous difference of concentration of these substance, arterial blood gas levels and spirometric data were studied in these patients. The results of this study demonstrated that the plasma NE and cyclic AMP concentrations were directly related to the degree of hypoxemia and some of the spirometric parameters in these patients. It is concluded that sympathetic nervous activity was augmented in chronic hypoxic states, especially with chronic respiratory failure.