Renin-aldosterone axis in ethanol intoxication.

The effect of acute moderate ethanol intoxication on renin-aldosterone axis was studied in four healthy humans in normal sodium and water balance. The subjects drank ethanol 1.2 g/kg body weight during 90 minutes. A dissociation between plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma aldosterone took place; PRA increased (p less than 0.001) and aldosterone showed a decreasing trend, which was not significant. Serum Na+/K+-ratio increased (p less than 0.001). We observed no significant change in serum osmolality, blood pressure nor heart rate. The increase (p less than 0.001). We observed no significant change in serum osmolality, blood pressure nor heart rate. The increase in PRA was probably caused primarily by dehydration due to ethanol diuresis. The dissociation between plasma aldosterone and PRA may be associated with increasing serum Na+/K+-ratio or an inhibitory action of ethanol on aldosterone secretion.