The effect of ageing on the plasma renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in elderly hypertensive patients

Plasma renin activity, renin concentration and aldosterone concentration were measured in 78 untreated hypertensive patients aged 60-83 years. In a cross-sectional analysis, plasma renin activity, renin concentration and aldosterone concentration showed no relationship with age. Half of these patients were subsequently followed on placebo over a 3-year period during which the plasma constituents of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system remained stable. From these cross-sectional and longitudinal observations we conclude that beyond the age of 60 ageing has no detectable effect on plasma renin and aldosterone levels in these elderly hypertensive patients.