1. Aldosterone-producing adenomas were located before operation in eighteen patients by comparison of aldosterone concentrations in blood obtained by percutaneous catheterization of the adrenal vein or renal vein. The concentration of aldosterone in the venous effluent from the adrenal glands containing adenomas was significantly greater than in the venous effluent from contralateral glands. 2. Cathetherization of the adrenal vein is, however, technically difficult. The location of adrenal adenomas was also possible by analysis of blood from the renal vein. 3. If the concentrations of aldosterone in blood from the left renal vein were higher than those from the right, the existence of a left adrenal adenoma was suggested. A high value in plasma, obtained from the inferior vena cava above the entry of the right adrenal vein, showed a right adrenal adenoma. This procedure identified very small functional adenomas which could not be demonstrated radiographically, or seen or palpated at surgery. 4. It was concluded that differential aldosterone measurement after percutaneous bilateral adrenal vein or renal vein catheterization can be used as a definitive test for the location of an aldosterone-producing adenoma, where this is uncertain.

Adenoma↗

PubMed1975

Diagnostic value of plasma renin activity and plasma angiotensin II in renovascular hypertension.

The plasma renin activity in both peripheral venous blood and the renal vein of the involved kidney showed high values. Angiotensin infusion elevated the urine volume and angiotensin excretion on the intact side, and the difference in urine volume and angiotensin excretion between the two sides was accentuated after angiotensin infusion. These findings are useful for the diagnosis of the stenotic side in renovascular hypertension. No difference in the prognosis of extirpation of the involved kidney and of vascular reconstruction of the stenotic artery was found for the treatment of renovascular hypertension. However, autotransplantation of the involved kidney was found to be more useful, since it allowed improvement of renal circulation, suppression of thrombosis formation, and the maintenance of kidney tissue.

Angiotensin II↗

PubMed1975

The relation between experimentally induced pyelonephritis and hypertension.

Hypertension resulting from chronic pyelonephritis has been shown in clinical as well as experimental cases, although some authors deny that there is a pathogenic relationship between the two. To throw light on this problem the present authors conducted a series of experiments with mongrel dogs, in which chronic pyelonephritis was induced and postoperative changes in blood pressure and plasma renin activity were observed over a period of 3 months. The pyelonephritis infection was brought about by a method involving vesicoureteral reflux and ureteral dysfunction, as described in a previous paper. Preoperative and postoperative levels of systolic pressure wer compared, but no definit trends were found for the first 3 weeks after operation. At 30, 60 and 90 days the pressures were found to have risen by 21.2 plus or minus 11.2 mmHg, 21.7 plus or minus 14.6 mmHg and 17.1 plus or minus 16.7 mmHg, respectively. Thus there was a significant elevation (p smaller than 0.01). No appreciable change in the plasma renin activity was found, however, at any stage. From these results it was concluded that experimentally induced chronic pyelonephritis in dogs caused a rise in blood pressure. No connection between the pyelonephritis and the renin angiotensin system was found.

Animals↗

PubMed1975

Uptake ratio of (19-1311) cholesterol by adrenal glands as observed by a scintigraphic method.

The adrenal scintigram was performed after administration of [19-131I] cholesterol. A high/low ratio of both adrenal glands was calculated to evaluate whether there is a difference between the left and right sides in adrenal diseases. During scanning, information was stored in a 64 X 64 matrix and then punched out on a computer compatible paper tape. This paper tape was processed with a small digital computer. The areas of interest were selected over adrenal glands. The computer decided mean counts per unit area. After subtraction of background counts, a high/low ratio of adrenal gland was calculated. In five patients with Cushing's syndrome due to bilateral hyperplasia, a high/low ratio ranged from 1.0 to 2.0. In four patients with primary aldosteronism due to adenoma, a high/low ratio ranged from 1.33 to 4.0. This method may be useful to differentiate bilateral hyperplasia from unilateral adrenocortical adenoma.

Adenoma↗

PubMed1975