The Antidiuretic Activity of Plasma of Patients with Hepatic Cirrhosis, Congestive Heart Failure, Hypertension and Other Clinical Disorders1

Abstract

The antidiuretic activity of the blood plasma was measured in healthy men and men suffering with (1) ascites and edema of hepatic cirrhosis, (2) edema of congestive heart failure, (3) hypertension, and (4) a variety of other clinical disorders. The incidence of an augmented antidiuretic activity of the plasma in these patients was 28% ascites of hep. cirr., 18% in edema of congestive failure, 36% in hypertension, 43% in the other clinical disorders, and 32% in all subjects with clinical disorders. Consequently, there was no relation between retention of H2O and augmentation of the antidiuretic activity of the blood.