[Saralasin-induced changes of blood pressure, renin and aldosterone in essential and renal hypertension (author's transl)].

In 34 patients saralasin was infused after variable degrees of sodium depletion in order to differentiate between essential and renin-induced hypertension. After sodium-depletion of short duration mean arterial pressure dropped more than 10 mm Hg in 9 of 25 patients with essential and in 7 of 9 patients with renin-induced hypertension. After long-lasting sodium depletion the fall of mean arterial pressure exceeded 10 mm Hg in 11 of 16 patients with essential and in 8 of 9 patients with renin-induced hypertension. Thus saralasin did not discriminate essential and renin-induced hypertension. Also, plasma renin concentration before and after saralasin did not allow to differentiate between the two forms of hypertension. The changes of renin during infusion of saralasin was negatively correlated to the change of blood pressure. Renal vein renin ratio in patients with renovascular hypertension was not modified by saralasin. Renin and aldosterone changed inversely during saralasin infusion.