CIRCULATING NORADRENALINE AND BETA-ADRENERGIC RECEPTORS IN CHILDREN WITH CONGESTIVE-HEART-FAILURE

This study was designed to investigate changes in plasma catecholamine concentrations and the number of beta-adrenoceptors (beta-AR) of circ ulating lymphocyte in 94 noncyanotic congenital heart patients. In 43 patients with congestive heart failure, beta-AR density was significan tly lower (p <0.001) and plasma noradrenergic levels were significantl y higher (p <0.001) compared with corresponding values in 51 patients without heart failure. A significant negative correlation between lymp hocyte beta-AR density and plasma noradrenergic levels was observed (r =-0.61, p <0.001). The degree of left-to-right shunt and pulmonary pre ssure was correlated directly with noradrenaline level and inversely w ith lymphocyte beta-AR density. Both plasma noradrenaline level and ly mphocyte beta-AR density return to normal in children with heart failu re after surgical repair. Our results support the idea that changes in noradrenaline level and lymphocyte beta-adrenoceptor density occur co ncurrently with the presence and severity of heart failure in children .