Further Studies on Urinary Aldosterone in Human Arterial Hypertension.

Conclusion Our results indicate 1) increased aldosterone excretion in about 55% of patients, 2) a very significant difference between mean aldosterone excretion of patients with essential, renal or malignant hypertension as compared with normal subjects, 3) a much greater degree of fluctuation in serial daily aldosterone determinations in 2 early asymptomatic hypertensive patients as compared to a normal subject. These observations bring additional and direct evidence for an adrenal cortical disturbance in hypertensive cardio-vascular disease. Although the evidence is suggestive, it cannot be established at the present time if these findings play an etiological role in pathogenesis of arterial hypertension. They may provide the explanation for the successful use of salt depletion by chlorothiazide and mercurials as essential adjunct to the “effectiveness” of the present anti-hypertensive therapy.