[Various hormonal interrelations in idiopathic edema]

The content of aldosterone and renin activity were examined together with the determination of progesterone, estradiol, gonadotropins and prolactin in the blood of 39 women with idiopathic edemas and in 15 normal women in different phases of menstrual cycle. Women with idiopathic edemas showed a number of hormonal deviations: absolute and relative hyperaldosteronism, particularly demonstrable in the ortho-position, impairment of physiological stability between aldosterone levels in the luteic and folliculin phases; a decrease in progesterone level in the luteic phase; a decrease in the absolute amount of estrogens in the folliculin phase and relative hyperestrogeny in the luteic one; an increase in prolactin content in the early folliculin phase in a considerable number of patients (50%). It is assumed that deviations described might be involved in the formation of edemas.