SKELETAL-MUSCLE BLOOD-FLOW IS NOT A DETERMINANT OF INSULIN-RESISTANCEIN ESSENTIAL-HYPERTENSION

Objective To investigate the haemodynamic effects of insulin and their relationship to insulin resistance in essential hypertension, Design Group comparison between patients with essential hypertension and norm al controls. Setting Outpatient clinics serving the greater Belfast ar ea, Patients Eleven patients with essential hypertension and eight age -, sex- and weight-matched control subjects were recruited, Administra tion of all antihypertensive agents to the hypertensive patients was s topped 6 weeks prior to the study. Methods Leg blood flow was measured using venous occlusion plethysmography. Insulin action was assessed u sing the hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic clamp technique, Results The hy pertensive subjects were insulin-resistant compared with the normal co ntrols, Insulin infusion resulted in similar increases in calf blood f low in the two groups, There was no correlation between calf blood flo w and measurements of insulin sensitivity in either group, Conclusions Differences in whole-body glucose uptake in hypertensive and control subjects are not likely to be related to differences in insulin-induce d stimulation of muscle blood flow.