Plasma renin activity in hypertension associated with coarctation of the aorta.

YAGI, SHIGERU, DIETER M. KRAMSCH, IRVING M. MADOFF, AND WILLIAM HOLLANDER. Plasma renin activity in hypertension associated with coarctation of the aorta. Am. J. Physiol. 215(3) : 605-610. 1968.-The peripheral plasma renin activity of dogs was determined by rat bioassay before and after surgically induced coarctation of the thoracic aorta. Immediately following the coarctation, plasma pressor activity increased and reached a maximal level in l-24 hr. These changes in pressor activity were associated with a fall in the blood pressure distal to the coarctation and a rise in the blood pressure proximal to the coarctation. In l-2 weeks after surgery, renin activity returned to control levels but the hypertension proximal to the coarctation persisted in association with a reduced arterial pulse pressure distal to the coarctation. The findings suggest that the early but not the chronic phase of hypertension of coarctation of the aorta is associated with an increase in peripheral plasma renin activity.