[Hormonal changes in chronic diffuse diseases of the liver]

The relationship between adrenocorticotropic hormone as well as renin and potassium activity and blood aldosterone secretion was examined in normal subjects and patients with chronic hepatic diseases. It is demonstrated that aldosterone stimulation is controlled by simultaneous renin-angiotensin (RA) and hypothalamo-adenopituitary effects in normal subjects and patients with chronic active hepatitis (CAH), the RA effects prevailing in normal subjects, and hypothalamo-adenopituitary ones, in CAH patients. Cirrhosis of the liver was associated with the greatest deviations in the stimulant-aldosterone relationship. Viral cirrhosis with ascites featured a considerable RA increase, affecting the adrenals, while the contribution of ACTH was reduced considerably. ACTH level was the highest in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis.