[Effect of ACTH on serum corticosteroid level in patients with hypertension].

A total of 192 subjects with borderline hypertension, essential hypertension (labile and stable patterns) and practically normal persons (controls) were examined. The basal plasma concentration of aldosterone, progesterone and cortisol as well as blood renin activity was measured in all the subjects in the orthostatic position. After intravenous injection of ACTH in a dose of 12.5 Units the blood was collected for analysis after 60 and 120 minutes. The basal level of corticosteroids underwent the most distinct alterations in patients with the labile and stable patterns of essential hypertension. The ACTH test pointed to definite changes in corticosteroid secretion in some subjects with borderline arterial hypertension. The test enabled one to identify a clear-cut dissociation in the aldosterone and progesterone reactions in subjects with stable essential hypertension. The ACTH test also made it possible to reveal a distinct functional relationship between the renin-angiotensin system and adrenal cortex, which was considerably impaired in stable essential hypertension.