STUDY OF A LARGE STEROID SPECTRUM IN NORMAL SUBJECTS AND HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS

Abstract

An extensive study made in 110 normal subjects and hypertensive patients has shown a statistically significant 2-fold mean increase in urinary aldosterone excretion and a statistically significant mean decrease in urinary pregnanetriol and in pregnanetriol/aldosterone ratio from groups of patients with essential, renal and malignant hypertension as compared to that of normal subjects. No significant difference was found in cortisone, cortisol and their tetrahydro derivatives, aetiocholanolone and the tetrahydro derivative of 17,21-dihydroxy-pregn-4-ene-3,20-dione excretion of hypertensive patients as compared to normotensive subjects. In four healthy volunteers, intravenous infusion of angio-tensin was followed by a 2 to 10-fold increase in urinary aldosterone excretion.