Plasma Clearance of dl-β-H3-Norepinephrine in Normal Human Subjects and Patients with Essential Hypertension*

Abstract
Five normal subjects and 5 patients with essential hypertension were infused with dl-[beta]-H3-norepinephrine (H3-NE) after which the plasma H3-NE levels were measured. Three hours after the conclusion of the infusions the plasma H3-NE clearances became exponential at rates uniformly more rapid in the hypertensive than in the normotensive subjects. There is an abnormality in the dynamics of norepinephrine metabolism in patients with essential hypertension. Tritium-labeled water is a normal catabolite of H3-NE.