Aldosterone Secretion in Hypertension

The rate of secretion and excretion of aldosterone was measured in 44 hypertensive patients. The method used for determining aldosterone secretion rate appeared to give valid results even in patients with renal failure. Hyperaldosteronism was uncommon in "benign" hypertension; its presence should suggest the possibility of curable hypertension resulting from adrenal cortical adenoma, bilateral adrenal cortical hyperplasia, or renal artery disease. However, hyperaldosteronism was also uncommon in patients with renal artery disease. In three patients previously untreated with antihypertensive medication, hyperaldosteronism disappeared after blood pressure was controlled.