Failure of Chronic Adrenal Venous Congestion to Produce Sodium Retention and Increased Aldosterone Excretion in the Dog

Abstract

Four dogs were studied before and after constriction of the inferior vena cava immediately above the entrance of the adrenolumbar veins. Despite a high venous pressure below the constricting ligature, the dogs failed to show increased aldosterone excretion, sustained sodium retention or ascites formation. These changes, which are observed regularly in dogs with constriction of the inferior vena cava in the thorax, are apparently related to hepatic venous congestion rather than elevated adrenal venous pressure.