ADRENOCORTICAL FUNCTION OF THE PATIENTS WITH HYPERTENSION AND WITH CORONARY HEART DISEASES

The adrenocortical function in patients with hypertension, myocardial infarction, and angina pectoris was investigated. 1) These patients had higher plasma levels of cortisol than normal sub jects, and after ACTH infusion, the plasma levels of cortisol rose higher than normal. 2) The increase of urinary 17-hydroxycorticosteroids was not always so marked as that of the plasma levels of cortisol, but after ACTH-Z injection, the excretion of 17-hydroxycorticosteroids increased much more than normal, indicating adrenocortical hyperactivity. 3) The excretion of 17-ketosteroids was found to be decreased in these patients. 4) The disappearance of exogenous cortisol from plasma lagged in these patients. 5) From these results, it was suggested that the elevation of plasma levels of cortisol in these patients is due in part to modified metabolism of cortisol. 6) Certain clinical evidences relevant to these data were discussed.