[The baroreceptor reflex as a predictor of crises in arterial hypertension].

The sensitivity of baroreceptor reflex was determined by the "neck chamber" method at a pressure of 40 mm Hg in patients with mild, moderate and malignant arterial hypertension (AH). A 24-hour blood monitoring was performed in patients with mild and moderate AH. There was a negative correlation between the lowering values in blood pressure on baroreceptor stimulation and the incidence of hypertensive crises in all the groups. There was also a negative correlation between the baroreceptor sensitivity and the daily blood pressure variations in patients with moderate AH. The findings suggest that a decrease in baroreceptor sensitivity might be a predictor of the critical course of AH.