Renin-dependency of glycyrrhizin-induced pseudoaldosteronism

A prospective study was carried out on 12 patients with chronic hepatitis who were taking 546 mg/day of glycyrrhizin for 4 weeks in order to identify the factors responsible for the development of hypertension and hypokalemia. In 5 patients, blood pressure increased and serum potassium decreased after the treatment (responders). In the remaining 7 patients, these values were unchanged (nonresponders). There were no significant differences in age, plasma aldosterone, the catecholamine concentrations or serum transaminases. The basal plasma renin activity (PRA) in the responders was more than 1.5 ng/m/h (2.5 +/- 0.3 ng/m/h), while that in the non-responders was less than 1.5 ng/m/h (0.7 +/- 0.1 ng/ml/h). Furthermore, a positive correlation between the basal RPA and the changes in blood pressure, and a negative correlation between the basal PRA and the changes in potassium were found. These results suggest that patients with higher PRA levels are more likely to develop hypertension and hypokalemia when treated with glycrrhizin.