[The effect of renal arterio- and phlebography on the function of the renin-angiotensin and hypophyseal-adrenal systems].

Based on the analysis of a RX-ray study and a selective blood test for the activity of the plasma renin, aldesterone, hydrocortisone and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in 57 patients with arterial hypertension--14 persons without renal failure, 14 ones regularly treated by hemodialysis, 29 patients with left orthostatic varicocele--the authors demonstrated the impact of the renal arterio- and phlebography on the hormone levels studied. Arteriography resulted in an increase in the absolute value of the renal vein renin mean 2.1-fold, aldosterone, 3.3-fold and hydrocortisone, 1.7-fold. A 2.2-fold increase in the renin activity and a 2.6-fold increase in the levels of aldosterone and hydrocortisone noted in all the patients were the result of retrograde renal phlebography. No correlations were established between the changes in hormone levels and the central mechanism of the secretion regulation (ACTH). Radiopaque investigations of the patients with arterial hypertension gave 22 per cent of false positive results with regard to the site of renin secretion and 18 per cent of those with regard to the participation of the studied kidney in renin secretion. The authors supposed a possible regulation of adrenal mineralocorticoid performance by a retrograde blood flow appeared through the adrenal central veins that was induced by phlebography--related elevation of blood pressure in the renal vein.