Epinephrin reaction in obesity.

Abstract

The reaction to epinephrin in the obese has been studied from a metabolic standpoint in a series of cases and compared with a group of normal controls. The subjects were studied in the basal condition, that is twelve to fifteen hours after the last meal, with a period of preliminary rest of one half hour before readings were begun. A solution of adrenalin (P. D. & Co.) in the tablet form, containing 0.625 mg. of adrenalin, were injected intramuscularly in each subject and the metabolism, respiratory quotient, ventilation, pulse rate and blood pressure noted 10, 20, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 minutes after epinephrin injection. The tablet form of epinephrin was used so as to insure greater constancy in epinephrin content, the solution having a tendency to deteriorate on standing.

Expressed on a basis of percentage rise above basal, it was found that the metabolism rose 26 to 28 per cent above basal in 20 to 30 minutes after epinephrin injection, in both the obese and normal subjects, which compares favorably with Boothby and Sandiford's work. 1 The ventilation per hour rose to 38 per cent in the obese and to 42 per cent in the normal controls. The respiratory quotients however showed the greatest variation, rising to 11 per cent above basal in 10 minutes in the obese, while a level of 19.6 per cent was reached in the normal subjects in the same length of time. The average basal respiratory quotient in the obese was .754, while in the normal it averaged .810. The pulse rate rose to 40 per cent in the obese, but only to 26 per cent in the normal in 30 minutes after injection.