Secretory function of the renin-aldosterone system in patients with anorexia nervosa

Patients with anorexia nervosa frequently demonstrate dehydration, electrolyte imbalance and low blood pressure that are secondary to starvation. Hyperactivity of the Renin-Aldosterone system and insensitivity to the pressor effects of exogenous angiotensin II are observed in Pseudo-Bartter syndrome caused by the abuse of diuretics or laxatives and self-induced vomiting, however, little information about the Renin-Aldosterone system has been reported in patients with anorexia nervosa. This study was designed to investigate the secretory function of the Renin-Aldosterone system in anorexia nervosa. The subjects were 13 patients with anorexia nervosa and 6 normal controls. Experiment 1: Angiotensin II infusion test was performed. Blood pressure was measured every 5 minutes, and the samples for plasma renin and serum aldosterone analysis were taken every 15 minutes during infusion test. Experiment 2: Plasma renin activity and serum aldosterone concentration were measured before and after one-hour walking. The results were as follows; (1) Basal plasma renin activity and serum aldosterone concentration in patients were not significantly higher than those in normal subjects. (2) Hypertensive response with elevation of the diastolic pressure during angiotensin II infusion in patients similar to that of normal subjects was observed. (3) Responses of plasma renin activity and serum aldosterone concentration after one-hour walking were significantly greater in patients than in normal subjects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)