A Hypertensive Syndrome with Relative Adrenal Cortical Overactivity

Abstract

The authors have used the concentration of salt in sweat as an objective test to demonstrate the existence of a group of hypertensive patients with clinical signs of hyperadrenocortical function. The significantly lower concentration of salt in the sweat of patients with this endocrine hypertensive syndrome distinguishes them from other hypertensive patients who show no significant difference from normal. That this difference reflects an adrenal pathway is further suggested by Conn's demonstration that hypoadrenal activity is associated with high concentrations, and hyperadrenal function with low concentrations of salt in sweat.