Beta-adrenergic blockade increases pulmonary vascular resistance and causes exaggerated hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction at high altitude: a physiological study.

Our data show that beta-adrenergic blockade increases, and muscarinic blockade decreases PVR, whereas both increase pulmonary artery elastance. Future studies may confirm potential implications from the finding that beta-adrenergic blockade exaggerates HPV for the management of mountaineers using beta-blockers for prevention or treatment of cardiovascular conditions.