Studies of renin and aldosterone in cirrhotic patients with ascites.

Plasma renin activity and aldosterone metabolism were investigated in patients with cirrhosis and refractory ascites. All patients initially showed marked elevations of plasma and renin activity and plasma aldosterone. Although metabolic clearance of aldosterone was reduced, increased secretion rate was the major factor leading to elevated plasma levels. The elevated plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone were only minimally affected by posture, dietary sodium restriction, and diuretic administration, suggesting a near-maximal degree of secondary aldosteronism. In most patients plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone returned to normal when spontaneous natriuresis appeared. However, in 2 patients during spontaneous diuresis and in all 3 given aminoglutethimide, sodium excretion was poorly correlated with plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone, suggesting that other tubular and/or vascular factors are important in the intense sodium reabsorption found with cirrhosis and ascites.