CATECHOLAMHNES AND OTHER BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETE RS IN NORMOTENSIVE AND HYPERTENSIVE EGYPTIANS

Abstract

Essential or idiopathic hypertension contributes to 90-95 %

of hypertensive cases in which the cause is unknown . Essential hypertension is characterized by a steady increase in blood pressure which , if not treated , results in target organs damage (Weder eta/., 1985). The catecholamines which are produced by the adrenal medulla are involved in a number of neuropsychiatric disorders and hypertension (Sibley & Lefkowitz ,1985). Phaeochromocytoma is a rare benign catecholamines- secreting tumor that arises from the chromaffin cells of the sympathoadrenal system and is a rare cause of secondary hypertension (Beno eta/., 1990) . Only 54 % of patients in whom phaeochromocytoma was

diagnosed at autopsy were known to have hypertension. This suggests that the diagnostic criteria need to be reevaluated (John et at., 1981 & Smyth eta/.,1992) .