ROLE OF ADRENAL-CORTEX AND SODIUM IN PATHOGENESIS OF HUMAN HYPERTENSION

Abstract

After 30 yr of continuous research into the mechanisms of human hypertension, the results obtained by the members of the multidisciplinary research group on hypertension of the Clinical Research Institute of Montreal [Canada] were summarized on the disturbances of mineralocorticoid activity in a rigorously selected group of patients with early, mild essential hypertension. These findings were integrated with those of many other groups working on other aspects of hypertensive cardiovascular diseases. The increased peripheral resistance responsible for hypertension may result from an imbalance of the equilibrium between either the sympathetic nervous system and norepinephrine, or the vascular tone, sensitivity and responsiveness of the arterial smooth muscle to norepinephrine and to angiotensin II. Three models that fit the experimental and clinical facts as known at present were described.