The Salivary Sodium-Potassium Ratio

Abstract

THE high incidence of hypertension in cases of primary aldosteronism,¹ the recent association of an elevated aldosterone secretory rate in malignant hypertension² and the case reports of aldosteronism associated with unilateral renal arterial stenosis³ have all focused clinical attention on the functional status of the adrenal gland in hypertensive subjects. However, this investigative enthusiasm is often dampened by duration and cost of sodium-potassium metabolic-balance studies⁴ and limited availability of the determination of tritium-labeled aldosterone secretory rate.⁵ A definite need is thus apparent for a "screening" procedure that can be applied to hypertensive subjects, to select those warranting further and more . . .