[Activity of the sympathetic nervous system and the levels of prostaglandins and intracellular electrolytes in patients with arterial hypertension and low plasma renin activity].

Differential-diagnosis tests for low-renin hypertension viz essential hypertension and arterial hypertension due to Conn's syndrome (adrenocortical adenoma or hyperplasia) have been assessed. The examined patients showed considerable humoral and metabolic differences, as compared to patients with high and normal plasma renin activity (PRA). For example, patients with essential hypertension and low PRA showed depressed noradrenalin and PGE2 secretion, increased PGF2 alpha secretion, low triglyceride level, and elevated erythrocyte sodium content. Patients with adrenocortical adenoma exhibited increased secretion of adrenalin, dopamine and PGF2 alpha, and a higher erythrocyte sodium level. Enhanced dopamine synthesis in patients with Conn's syndrome may be an adaptive response to a high aldosterone level.