Essential Hypertension: Renin and Aldosterone, Heart Attack and Stroke

Abstract
In 219 patients with essential hypertension, aldosterone excretion and plasma renin activity were related to daily sodium excretion and compared to a nomogram drawn from 52 normal volunteers studied over the same continuous range of sodium balance. Plasma renin activity was subnormal in 27 per cent, normal in 57 per cent and elevated in 16 per cent. Further study showed eight patterns of renin and aldosterone secretion.