The effect of spironolactone in hypertensive patients on regular haemodialysis and after renal allotransplantation.

To determine the role of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in the maintenance of hypertension in patients with end stage renal disease, twenty four hypertensive patients were studied on regular haemodialysis treatment (RDT) and after successful kidney transplantation. The first group consisted of nine patients on RDT with their own kidneys in situ, and the second group consisted of nine kidney transplants. All 18 patients were given spironolactone 300 mg daily for three weeks following a control period of the same duration. In addition, three anephric patients on RDT were studied with the above protocol and three other patients on RDT were given the same dose for only six days. Blood pressure (BP), body weight, plasma K-Na, aldosterone and renin activity in all patients, and Na and aldosterone in urine in the second group were measured. In the first group of patients on RDT plasma potassium and renin activity increased significantly but BP remained unchanged. In the second group of transplanted patients plasma potassium, renin activity, and aldosterone were increased and BP diminished significantly. In the group of three anephric patients plasma potassium increased but plasma renin activity remained very low. Finally, in the patients on dialysis who received spironolactone for only six days there was a parallel increase of serum potassium and plasma renin activity. These findings suggest that in patients on RDT spironolactone stimulates renin secretion and potassium retention possibly by an effect on the remaining nephrons and/or the intestinal wall. On the contrary, in the transplanted patients the effect of spironolactone on the renal tubule is capable of producing sodium depletion and fall in BP.