Converting enzyme activity and essential hypertension.

Serum ACE-activity was studied in 27 young patients with uncomplicated essential hypertension. The possible importance of an increase in ACE for the pathogenesis of essential hypertension was evaluated by comparing the ACE levels to PRA, the plasma concentrations of angiotensin II and to the blood pressure lowering effect of captopril. Mean ACE-activity was slightly but significantly elevated in the hypertensive patients when compared to 28 normotensive control subjects. ACE-activity was not correlated to PRA, angiotensin II or the decrease in blood pressure following captopril. It is concluded that the increase in ACE-activity in essential hypertension is not of pathophysiological or clinical significance.