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.

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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.”

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