Plasma levels of 18-hydroxy-11-deoxycorticosterone in essential hypertension.

In order to investigate the role of 18-hydroxy-11-deoxycorticosterone (18-OH-DOC) in essential hypertension (EH), the responses of plasma 17-OH-DOC to 7 stimulation tests (furosemide test, adrenal suppression test, angiotensin II infusion test, adrenal stimulation test, metopirone test, saline infusion test and potassium chloride infusion test) and the circadian rhythm were investigated in 18 patients with essential hypertension (low renin group: 8, and normal renin group: 10). From the present study, it micht be thought that plasma 18-OH-DOC does not play an important role in the suppression of PRA in patients with low PRA.