[Radioimmunologic determination of aldosterone and renin in the blood in the diagnosis of different forms of arterial hypertension].

Aldosterone concentration and renin activity in the blood from the ulnar, inferior cava veins at the level of the 12th thoracic vertebra, the left and right renal veins were studied in 60 patients with arterial hypertension by means of a radioimmunoassay kit (France). The patients were divided into 4 groups: with primary and idiopathic hyperaldosteronism, renal-parenchymatous and essential arterial hypertension. A significant increase in aldosterone concentration in the blood from the ulnar vein was detected in all the groups, especially in primary and idiopathic hyperaldosteronism. Hyperaldosteronism in the patients with renal-parenchymatous and essential arterial hypertension was regarded as secondary in a stable and malignant course of arterial hypertension. The diagnosis of primary and idiopathic hyperaldosteronism was also confirmed by low blood renin activity. Renin activity in the peripheral venous blood was considerably elevated in renal-parenchymatous arterial hypertension and was within normal in essential hypertension. Aldosterone concentration in the blood from the vena cava inferior and renal veins was 1.6-2-fold as high on the affected side as on the contralateral one.