Temporary elimination of orthostatic hypotension by norepinephrine infusion.

A cardinal manifestation of chronic autonomic failure is neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (OH), which often is associated with supine hypertension, posing a therapeutic dilemma. We report here success in a first step toward development of a "prosthetic baroreceptor system" to maintain blood pressure during orthostasis without worsening supine hypertension. In all of four patients with neurogenic OH, titrated i.v. NE infusion kept directly recorded intra-arterial pressure at or above baseline during progressive head-up tilt. We conclude that titrated i.v. NE infusion temporarily eliminates OH.