Relation of age, diastolic pressure and known duration of hypertension to presence of low renin essential hypertension

Comparison of several clinical and biochemical variables among the renin study subgroups revealed no differences except that the group with a low level of renin activity excreted a greater amount of sodium, which supports the hypothesis that a low reninActivity level may evolve with time in patients with essential hypertension.

Abstract

Plasma renin activity and aldosterone secretion rates were measured in 100 patients with essential hypertension in response to a low sodium diet and upright posture. Plasma renin activity showed a subnormal response in 22 percent of patients, and a greater than normal response in 4 percent. In contrast to findings in 50 normal subjects, there was a significant positive correlation between the incidence of subnormal renin response and patient age and level of diastolic blood pressure. There was no correlation between renin response and known duration of hypertension. Comparison of several clinical and biochemical variables among the renin study subgroups revealed no differences except that the group with a low level of renin activity excreted a greater amount of sodium. These data support the hypothesis that a low renin activity level may evolve with time in patients with essential hypertension. Plasma renin activity and aldosterone secretion rates were measured in 100 patients with essential hypertension in response to a low sodium diet and upright posture. Plasma renin activity showed a subnormal response in 22 percent of patients, and a greater than normal response in 4 percent. In contrast to findings in 50 normal subjects, there was a significant positive correlation between the incidence of subnormal renin response and patient age and level of diastolic blood pressure. There was no correlation between renin response and known duration of hypertension. Comparison of several clinical and biochemical variables among the renin study subgroups revealed no differences except that the group with a low level of renin activity excreted a greater amount of sodium. These data support the hypothesis that a low renin activity level may evolve with time in patients with essential hypertension.