[Assessment of active renin instead of plasma renin activity in the renin captopril test]

In the study usefulness of active renin (AR) measurement instead of plasma renin activity (PRA) in the diagnosis of reno-vascular hypertension(RVH) was evaluated. 42 patients with arterial hypertension (17F, 25M; mean age 45 + 12 years) and suspicion on RVH on the ground of the abnormal result of the preliminary renal angioscintigraphy were qualified to the study. Angioscintigraphic (SCT) and simultaneously renin captopril test (RCT) followed by renal arteriography or Doppler ultrasonography of renal arteries were performed in every case Haemodynamic significant stenosis of renal artery was revealed in 5 cases. The results of the examination in this group were as follows: in 3 patients positive RCT with PRA, in 4 patients positive RCT with R and in 2 patients positive SCT were found. The false positive results of RCT using PRA were obtained in 5 patients and only in 2 patients if using AR. There were no false positive results of SCT. The introduction of AR instead of PRA in RCT resulted in simplification and shortening of the diagnostic procedure. Furthermore, this modification increased detection of hemodynamically significant stenosis of renal artery from 2 cases revealed with SCT and 3 cases with PRAin RCT to 4 cases with AR. The successful preliminary results let us to introduce this modification of RCT to routine out-patients screening for RVH.