What causes treatment-resistant hypertension?
Particular gut bacteria according to a recent study, the Reduce the effectiveness of high blood pressure medications. This explains why high blood pressure may not be adequately lowered with drugs.
In the study involving experts from University of Toledo was examined whether gut microbiota the antihypertensive drug Quinapril (ACE inhibitors) and impair its antihypertensive effect. The results can be found in the journal “Hypertension“ to be read.
Treatment-resistant hypertension widespread
„High blood pressure is often called the silent killer because it usually doesn’t cause any symptoms. However, there is a large group of people who know they have high blood pressure but are still unable to control it despite taking blood pressure medication‘ explains the author of the study Dr. Tao Yang in a press release.
Although different classes of antihypertensive drugs are available, a large proportion of people stay with them high blood pressure therapieresistent.
The reason for the low effectiveness of antihypertensive drugs the researchers report that it has so far remained unclear in these people.
„So far we still have no clear evidence on the mechanism of resistant hypertension. Our research could be a first step towards finding new ways to effectively combat therapy-resistant hypertension“, so Dr. Yang.
Do gut microbiota break down antihypertensive drugs?
Since it is known that the Darmmicrobiota involved in the so-called pathophysiology of high blood pressure and in drug metabolism, the experts hypothesized that bacteria of the Darmflora break down antihypertensive drugs and thus impair their effectiveness.
So the team investigated the Connection between the blood pressure values and the unique accumulation of bacteria in the gut. This helped decipher possible causes of high blood pressure that go beyond diet and exercise.
The current research is the first to examine the effects of gut bacteria on blood pressure medication itself.
The study compared the effectiveness of the blood pressure-lowering drug quinapril in rats with normal gut bacteria and rats whose gut microbiota had been depleted by high doses of antibiotics.
Antibiotics improved response to quinapril
The researchers noticed a clear difference between the two groups: the animals that came first Antibiotics received responded much better to quinapril. An analysis of the composition of the intestinal bacteria in the animals helped the responsible Bakterium Coprococcus to identify.
Coprococcus comes breaks down quinapril and ramipril
Laboratory experiments have shown that Coprococcus comesa dominant species of bacteria in this genus, Eliminate quinapril and ramipril leading to the compromised antihypertensive effects, the team reports.
Results seem transferable to humans
Even though the current investigation was limited to animal models and laboratory experiments, the researchers were able to find at least one interesting case study, which seems to support the results obtained could be transmissible to humans.
According to the experts, a case was already described in a 2015 report in which a woman had been suffering from treatment-resistant high blood pressure for a long time. It succeeded at that time the blood pressure of this woman for two weeks without antihypertensive drugs to keep under control while they was taking antibiotics for a postoperative infection.
Even after stopping the antibiotics, the blood pressure of those affected could be kept under control for six months with just one drug, before the woman then became resistant to the treatment again, the researchers report. The study was then published in the English-language journal “International Journal of Cardiology” released.
Gut bacteria and blood pressure medication
according to dr While Yang is only a report and further investigation is needed, the results suggest that gut bacteria a very real and very important role in the Regulating the effectiveness of blood pressure medications can play
Long-term use of antibiotics is not a solution
Although long-term use of antibiotics not a realistic strategy to treat treatment-resistant hypertension, it should be possible to stimulate the microbiota Probiotics, prebiotics and dietary changes to change, says Dr. Yang.
„The ultimate goal of my research is to find ways in which we can target the bacteria in a person’s gut to improve the effectiveness of drugs. This has the potential to help many people‘ adds the doctor.
According to the study author, the results Dr. Bina Joe represent a significant advancement in the understanding of the causes of hypertension and help to identify new treatment options. (as)
Author and source information
This text corresponds to the specifications of medical specialist literature, medical guidelines and current studies and has been checked by medical professionals.
Sources:
- Tao Yang, Xue Mei, Ethel Tackie-Yarboi, Millicent Tambari Akere, Jun Kyoung, et al.: Identification of a Gut Commensal That Compromises the Blood Pressure-Lowering Effect of Ester Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; in: Hypertension (veröffentlicht 10.05.2022), Hypertension
- University of Toledo: Study Finds Gut Bacteria Can Make Blood Pressure Medication Less Effective (veröffentlicht 26.05.2022), University of Toledo
- YanFei Qi, Juan M. Aranda, Vermali Rodriguez, Mohan K. Raizada, Carl J. Pepine: Impact of antibiotics on arterial blood pressure in a patient with resistant hypertension — A case report; in: International Journal of Cardiology (veröffentlicht 30.07.2015), internationaljournalofcardiology.com
Important NOTE:
This article contains general advice only and should not be used for self-diagnosis or treatment. He can not substitute a visit at the doctor.