Role of renin-angiotensin system in the controls of blood pressure and aldosterone in patients with cirrhosis and ascites.

In an attempt to evaluate the role of renin-angiotensin system in the contols of blood pressure and aldosterone secretion in the patients with cirrhosis and asictes, 7 patients were infused of an antagonist of angiotensin II, Sar-1 Ile-8 angiotensin II, intravenously to inhibit the action of renin-angiotensin system and to observe changes in arterial pressure and plasma aldosterone. In 1 patient with recent onset of severe ascites and high plasma renin activity, blood pressure and plasma aldosterone decreased during the infusion. In contrast, mild rise in blood pressure and various changes in plasma aldosterone were observed in the other 6 patients with normal plasma renin activity. These results suggest variable angiotensin dependency in the controls of blood pressure and plasma aldosterone in the patients with cirrhosis and ascites according to the stage of the disease, the states of sodium and water balance and/or palasma renin activity.