[Plasma renin activity, aldosterone and adrenergic activity in patients with hypertension and in normotensives with a family history of hypertension].

Unlabelled: The aim of the study was to analyse plasma renin activity (PRA), aldosterone (Ald) and catecholamines at rest, after psychological stress and physical exercise in patients with essential hypertension (EH) and normotensive persons with (FH +) and without (FH-) family history of hypertension.

Materials And Methods: 100 men, aged 18-35 years, were investigated: 36 in EH, 32 in FH + and 32 in FH- groups. PRA, Ald and plasma level of adrenaline (A), noradrenaline (NA) and dopamine (D) were estimated at rest, after 30' of stress (Kraepelins test) and at the end and 30, after submaximal ergometric exercise.

[Percutaneous coronary angioplasty and levels of endothelin-1 in blood].

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to assess plasma endothelin-1 (ET) concentrations during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) of the left anterio descending coronary artery (LAD). We also examined relations between plasma concentrations of ET and diameter of the PTCA-balloon. Plasma levels of ET determined by radioimmunoassay were measured in 24 patients (pts) without previous myocardial infarction undergoing PTCA of LAD.

[Atrial natriuretic peptide in rheumatic mitral valve disease].

The aim of the study was to analyze atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) plasma level in patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease in correlation with NYHA functional class and selected hemodynamic parameters based on noninvasive diagnostic procedures. Echocardiographic (2-D, Doppler) and X-ray chest examination were performed to measure left atrium dimension, mitral gradient and relative heart volume (RHV). Control group consisted of 10 healthy subjects.