Role of renin angiotensin aldosterone on minimal change nephrotic syndrome

Plasma volume (PV), plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma aldosterone (PA) were examined serially at the edema forming stage, the stage of diuresis, and the stage of remission in 11 patients. These patients were steroid responsive, minimal change nephrotic syndrome with normal kidney function. PV was expressed as a percentage of the normal reference value, which was obtained from PV and body height in 44 normal volunteers. PV decreased significantly at the edema-forming stage and increased at the stage of the diuresis. A significant inverse correlation was obtained between PV and PRA. PRA correlated significantly with PA. The amount of 24 hour urinary sodium excretion severely reduced at the edema-forming stage and increased at the stage of diuresis: thus showing a significant inverse correlation with PA. In conclusion, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system plays a role as a compensatory mechanism to the intravascular volume status in minimal change nephrotic syndrome, but, its' contribution to the genesis of edema is unsusceptible.