[14C-aldosterone binding by plasma proteins in adolescents with primary arterial hypertension]

The binding 14C-aldosterone by plasma globulins in vitro was studied in healthy adolescents and in those with primary arterial hypertension (PAH). In most of the patients examined hyperaldosteronism was found, which was attended by an increased percentage of 14C-aldosterone binding with aldosterone binding globulin (ABG) and particularly with glucocorticoid binding globulin (GBG). One and half hours of walking caused n changes in the parameters studied in healthy adolescents; in those with hyperaldosteronism the content of aldosterone in blood was considerably reduced, while in patients with a normal initial aldosterone level in blood, it increased with no essential changes in the ability of plasma globulins to bind labelled aldosterone. Two-week treatment of PAH patients with propranolol caused a sharp increase in the plasma aldosterone content and 14C-aldosterone binding with ABG and GBG. It is concluded that the determination of labeled aldosterone binding by plasma proteins is important for indirect judgement of metabolic aldosterone clearance.