Increased excretion of kallikrein during dexamethasone administration in normal man on low and normal salt intake.

The effect of dexamethasone administration for 3 days on urinary kallikrein excretion was studied in 12 normal men with normal sodium intake (n = 6) or low sodium intake (n = 6). Urinary excretion of sodium, potassium, 17-hydroxycorticosteroids, aldosterone and water was also measured in all subjects. Dexamethasone administration was associated with a significant increase in urinary kallikrein excretion (F3, 30 = 6.9; P less than 0.001) regardless of sodium intake. No significant correlation could be established between the increase in urinary kallikrein excretion and changes in urinary sodium, potassium, 17-hydroxycorticosteroids, aldosterone or water. These results suggest that dexamethasone can exert a direct action on the renal kallikrein-kinin system.