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1. An elevation in blood pressure has been consistently observed 24 h after adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) administration and is caused by increased ACTH-stimulated cortisol secretion, in association with increased cardiac output. The aim of the present study was to investigate the previously undefined time of onset of this increase in blood pressure in normal humans. 2. Ten normal healthy volunteers received 250 mg ACTH-[1-24], in 500 mL normal saline, infused at a constant rate over 8 h. Six subjects also received a placebo infusion (normal saline only). Blood pressure, heart rate and cortisol levels were determined hourly. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH-[1-24] plus native ACTH) was measured at 0, 1, 7 and 8 h. 3. Infusion of ACTH-[1-24] produced maximal secretion rates of cortisol, resulting in a mean peak plasma level of 985 +/- 46 nmol/L at 8 h. In response, blood pressure and heart rate rose significantly by 2 h and remained generally elevated for the duration of the infusion. 4. The early onset of haemodynamic responses is consistent with classical steroid receptor-mediated genomic mechanisms, but could be due non-genomic mechanisms. 5. The cardiovascular consequences of therapeutic use of ACTH are well recognized. This results of the present study suggest that even diagnostic administration of ACTH, delivered over a few hours, may raise blood pressure.

Blood pressures were measured as part of a health check in a randomly selected sample of the New Zealand population. One thousand, four hundred and ten men and 1605 women over 15 years were studied. Measurements were made by trained observers using the Hawksley Random Zero instrument. Systolic and diastolic pressures increased with age in men and women. There were 29% of men and 24% of women over the age of 45 with pressures over 160/95 mmHg of whom 24% of men and 33% of women were on treatment for hypertension. Of all subjects 9% of men and 12% of women were on treatment for hypertension. Systolic and diastolic pressures correlated significantly with body mass index, waist/hip ratio and skinfold measurements in men and women. The most significant correlation was with the body mass index. No regional or urban/rural differences were seen in systolic or diastolic pressures. A history of hypertension in the fathers of respondents related to blood pressures in the highest tertile of diastolic blood pressures in males, and systolic pressure of females. The association was not seen between mothers of respondents in respect of diastolic pressure.

Blood pressures (BPs) were measured as part of a health check in a randomly selected sample of the New Zealand population in the Life in New Zealand survey. A total of 1,410 men and 1,605 women over 15 years of age were studied. Measurements were made by trained observers using the Hawksley random zero instrument. Systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) increased with age in men and women. There were 29% of men and 24% of women over the age of 45 years with BPs over 160/95 mm Hg, of whom 24% of men and 33% of women indicated they were on treatment for hypertension. No regional or urban/rural differences were seen in either SBPs or DBPs. A history of hypertension in the fathers of respondents related to BPs in the highest tertile of SBPs in males, and SBPs in females. The association was not seen between mothers of respondents, except for DBP in women respondents.

Multiple regression analysis of data on age, blood pressure, adiposity and blood lipids from a rural New Zealand population of over 1200 adults has been undertaken. The results show that rises in blood lipids over time in the population are independent of age and correlate significantly with adiposity. Thus plasma cholesterol and triglycerides correlate with adiposity (expressed as Quetelet's index or skinfold thickness) in men whereas significant correlation in women was only between adiposity and plasma triglycerides. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure in men was strongly correlated with their plasma triglycerides, but not cholesterol, when the effect of age and adiposity was removed. In women however only a weak correlation was observed between plasma triglycerides and systolic blood pressure. The significance of the findings is discussed.