[Concentration of adrenocorticotrophic hormone and aldosterone secretion in essential hypertension and hyperaldosteronism]

The authors studied the effect of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), potassium and plasma renin activity on blood aldosterone in normal subjects as well as in patients with essential hypertension (of a labile and stable course) and hyperaldosteronism (primary and idiopathic). It was demonstrated that in normal subjects and patients with labile essential hypertension, the secretion of aldosterone was simultaneously stimulated by the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and the hypothalamus-adenopituitary. The RAS dominated in normal conditions whereas in labile hypertension the hypothalamus-adenopituitary system was predominant. In stable hypertension, the RAS and hypothalamus-pituitary influenced aldosterone secretion in an equal degree. Hyperaldosteronism was associated with the most pronounced deviations in the relationship between stimulants and aldosterone. In addition to decreased plasma levels of renin activity and potassium, the corticotropic activity of the hypothalamus-adenopituitary was increased during the first 10 years of the disease, while later on the function of this system became inhibited. The highest ACTH levels were recorded in idiopathic hyperaldosteronism.