[An assay for aldosterone precursors: a tool for clinical diagnosis and adrenal physiopathology]

After their contribution to the study of 18 hydroxycorticosterone as an intermediate in aldosterone biosynthesis the authors present here a new series of assays for the measurement of plasma aldosterone precursors as a pertinent tool in the extensive study and clinical evaluation of the mineralocorticoid function of the adrenal. These radioimmunoassays must be undertaken under strict technical conditions: time of blood withdrawal and also posture. Their use is irrelevant in any other clinical feature but the salt loss syndrome and hyper mineralo-corticism together with or without high plasma aldosterone.