Humoral factors involved in the regulation of sodium-fluid balance in man. III. Renal prostaglandins and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in hypertensive disorders.

An estimation of renal secretion rates of PGE2 and PGF2 alpha, in parallel with renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and catecholamines was performed on control subjects, essential hypertensive, and renovascular hypertensive patients. In essential hypertensive patients with normal plasma renin activity (PRA) and normal catecholamines level. We did not find any changes in the renal prostaglandin (PG) secretion rate as compared to the control subjects. Our results do not support the hypothesis that a reduction of PGE2 production is a specific feature of patients with essential hypertension. In renovascular hypertensive patients with unilateral renal artery stenosis we found: 1. High PRA in the renal plasma of the abnormal (with renal artery stenosis) kidney, and in peripheral plasma; 2. Decreased renal release of PGE2 from both kidneys, more distinct in abnormal kidney; 3. No changes of renal production of PGF2 alpha. The positive and negative correlation between renin-angiotensin system and renal PGs in physiological and pathological conditions was discussed.