Plasma prostaglandin E during neurogenic hypertension in tetraplegic man.

1. Arterial blood pressure and heart rate were measured before, during and after cutaneous and visceral stimulation in subjects tetraplegic due to severe cervical spinal cord damage. Stimulation resulted in marked hypertension as a result of reflex sympathetic overactivity. 2. Mixed venous blood from a catheter situated in the right atrium was obtained before and after stimulation and plasma prostaglandin E and prostaglandin F were measured. A consistent and significant rise in plasma prostaglandin E, but not plasma prostaglandin F, accompanied the hypertension. 3. It is suggested that prostaglan ding E is released during this sympathetic nervous activity and may be related to neurogenic hypertension.