[Prostaglandins in renovascular arterial hypertension].

Prostaglandins (PG) A1, B1, E2, F2 alpha and plasma renin activity (PRA) were measured by radioimmunoassay in 8 patients with unilateral artery stenosis, 7 hypertensive patients with unilateral renal atrophy without stenosis ans 20 controls. The measurement of the PG and PRA in the hypertensive group was performed in the infra-renal inferior vena cava and in the two renal veins. PRA and PGA1 were significantly raised in the renovascular hypertensive patients but no significant change was observed in the group with unilateral renal atrophy.

Urinary prostaglandins in kidney disease.

Substances having the chromatographic behaviour and the bioassay properties of prostaglandins (PGE and PGF) were detected in the urine of 30 patients with kidney disease and 15 healthy subjects. The mean urinary PGE and PGF values in 15 patients with chronic glomerular disease or nephrosclerosis were significantly lower than those of 15 patients with chronic pyelonephritis and other forms of chronic interstitial nephritis, polycystic kidney disease, obstructive nephropathy or diuretic phase of acute renal failure, and of the mean PGE and PGF values found in the healthy subjects. It was suggested that in contrast to disease affecting primarily the renal medulla, chronic glomerular disease and nephrosclerosis are accompanied by a decrease of renal prostaglandin synthesis and/or release.

Abnormal regulation of antidiuretic hormone in idiopathic edema.

Idiopathic edema is characterized by impaired water excretion, particularly in the upright posture. Indirect evidence has shown that antidiuretic hormone is involved in this disease. For this reason, we measured urinary arginine vasopressin by radioimmunoassay before and during water loading (15 ml/kg) in 10 normal women and in 10 subjects with idiopathic edema in both the supine and upright postures.

Is low urinary prostaglandin concentration a stage in the development of essential hypertension?

Urinary prostaglandin E and F (PGE and PGF) concentrations, renal plasma flow (RPF), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), sodium excretion rate (UNaV), potassium excretion rate (UKV), urinary osmolarity (Uosm) and osmolar clearance (Cosm) were found to be higher, while mean blood pressure (MBP) was lower in a group of 15 normotensive subjects (15NS), compared to those values obtained in a group of 25 essential patients (25EHP) of the same mean age. After volume expansion, of the 25EHP, urinary PGE concentration, RPF, noncortical plasma flow (NCPF), UNaV, UKV, UNaV/UKV, Cosm and urine volume (UV) increased significantly, MBP, GFR, Uosm, free water reabsorption (Tc water) and urinary aldosterone concentration did not change, while plasma renin activity (PRA) decreased significantly. It was concluded that the deficiency in renomedullary PG synthesis in the EHP is accompanied by a decrease in RPF, NCPF and UNaV.

[Phaeochromocytoma: localisation by computerised scanner tomography. 5 cases (author's transl)].

In five patients with a phaeochromocytoma, axial computerised scanner tomography made it possible to localise the tumour without ambiguity, even when intravenous urography had been interpreted as normal. Although all the tumours diagnosed were relatively large (between 3 and 9 cm), this is nevertheless a non-invasive examination, free of danger and worthy of consideration in the preoperative assessment of a case of phaeochromocytoma.

Guanfacine kinetics in patients with hypertension.

Guanfacine kinetics were studied in 19 patients with hypertension after single and repeated oral doses. The single-dose study was performed in two homogeneous groups who received 2 mg (n = 9) and 4 mg (n = 10). The plasma concentrations were fitted in a two-compartment open model with first-order absorption.

Repeat hemodynamic determinations in borderline hypertension.

Repeat hemodynamic determinations were performed in 37 young men with borderline hypertension. The duration of the follow up study was 47 +/- three months. At each determination, those with borderline hypertension were compared to a group of matched normal subjects.

[Essential hypertension: long term haemodynamic effects of a diuretic combination (cyclothiazide-triamterene) (author's transl)].

The long terme hemodynamic effect of cyclothiazide 3 mg-triamterene 150 mg was studied in 10 patients with permanent essential hypertension. Diuretic therapy induced a significant fall in blood pressure (p less than 0.001) and total peripheral resistance (p less than 0.

Prostaglandins in renovascular and renal hypertension.

PG A1, B1, E2, F1,2alpha and PRA have been measured in 8 hypertensive patients with unilateral renal arterial stenosis, 7 hypertensive patients with unilateral renal atrophy and 20 control normotensive subjects. PRA and PGA1 were significantly increased in patients with renovascular hypertension but not in patients with atrophy. PGE2 and PGF1,2alpha were increased in both groups of patients, especially on the stenotic or atrophic side.