[Changes of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and immunologic parameters in essential and symptomatic arterial hypertension].

The authors examined 150 patients with pronounced arterial hypertension: 73 with essential hypertension, 42 with chronic glomerulonephritis, 26 with chronic pyelonephritis and 10 with diabetic glomerulosclerosis. In addition to conventional tests, measurements were made of renin activity, levels of plasma aldosterone and hydrocortisone, IgA, IgG, IgM, CIC. A significant rise in concentrations of aldosterone, hydrocortisone against a significant fall in those of plasma renin were registered in all the patients irrespective of the disease. Significant differences between the groups by the renin profile, aldosterone and hydrocortisone levels were absent. It is suggested that changes in the hormonal spectrum and immunological indices are independent of renal affections in hypertension, while involvement of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in hypertension stabilization has no nosological specificity. The pattern of the immunity shifts evidences for their important pathogenetic role in maintenance and progression of arterial hypertension.