Plasma Renin Activity (plasma + renin_activity)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Routine Measurement of Plasma Renin Activity in the Management of Patients With Essential Hypertension: Notes From the 19th Annual ASH Meeting

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL HYPERTENSION, Issue 12 2004
Ari Mosenkis MD
No abstract is available for this article. [source]


Effects of raloxifene on the renin,angiotensin,aldosterone system and blood pressure in hypertensive and normotensive osteoporotic postmenopausal women

GERIATRICS & GERONTOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2010
Hiroyuki Sumino
Aim: An increase in blood pressure after menopause has been documented. The renin,angiotensin,aldosterone system (RAAS) plays a central role in the regulation of blood pressure and in the pathophysiology of hypertension. This study investigated the effects of raloxifene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator, on components of the RAAS and blood pressure in hypertensive and normotensive osteoporotic postmenopausal women. Methods: A total of 41 hypertensive or normotensive postmenopausal women with osteoporosis or osteopenia were divided into four groups. Eleven hypertensive and eight normotensive women received raloxifene hydrochloride (60 mg/day) p.o. for 6 months, and 12 hypertensive and 10 normotensive women did not receive raloxifene hydrochloride for 6 months. In all of the hypertensive women, blood pressure had been controlled prior to the start of the study using a variety of antihypertensive drugs other than angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin (Ang)II type 1 receptor antagonists or diuretics. Plasma renin activity (PRA), serum ACE activity, plasma AngI, AngII and aldosterone concentrations, and blood pressure were measured before and 6 months after the start of the study. Results: No significant changes in PRA, ACE activity, or the AngI, AngII or aldosterone levels were observed in any of the groups. In all the groups, blood pressure remained unchanged. Conclusion: Raloxifene may have no significant effect on the RAAS or blood pressure in hypertensive and normotensive osteoporotic postmenopausal women. [source]


Plasma renin in mice with one or two renin genes

ACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, Issue 4 2004
P. B. Hansen
Abstract Aim:, In the present study we have investigated whether the presence of a second renin gene exerts an overriding influence on plasma renin such that mice with two renin genes have consistently higher renin levels than mice with only one renin gene. Methods:, Plasma renin was determined as the rate of angiotensin I generation using a radioimmunoassay (RIA) kit with (plasma renin concentration, PRC) or without (plasma renin activity, PRA) the addition of purified rat angiotensinogen as substrate. Results:, In male 129SvJ, DBA/2 and Swiss Webster mice, strains possessing both Ren-1 and Ren-2, PRC (ng Ang I mL,1 h,1) averaged 178 ± 36, 563 ± 57 and 550 ± 43 while PRA was 2.9 ± 0.5, 3.6 ± 0.8 and 7.8 ± 1.2. In male C57BL/6, C3H and BALB/c mice that express only Ren-1, PRC averaged 426 ± 133, 917 ± 105 and 315 ± 72, and PRA was 3.4 ± 1.0, 6.9 ± 1.7 and 4.5 ± 1.2. In the two renin gene A1AR,/, mice compared with the one renin gene A1AR+/+, PRC averaged 538 ± 321 and 415 ± 159 while PRA averaged 3.2 ± 1.1 and 4.4 ± 1.4 ng Ang I mL,1 h,1. Aldosterone levels showed no significant differences between one renin (C57BL/6, C3H and BALB/c) and two renin (129SvJ, DBA/2 and Swiss Webster) gene mice. Furthermore, by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) we found no correlation between the number of renin genes and whole kidney renin mRNA levels from one and two renin gene mice. Conclusion:, Our data show that baseline plasma renin is not systematically higher in mice with two renin genes than in one renin gene mice. Thus, the presence of a second renin gene does not seem to be a major determinant of differences in PRC between different mouse strains. [source]


Systemic, renal, and hepatic hemodynamic derangement in cirrhotic patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

HEPATOLOGY, Issue 5 2003
Luis Ruiz-del-Arbol M.D.
Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is frequently associated with renal failure. This study assessed if systemic and hepatic hemodynamics are also affected by this condition. Standard laboratory tests, tumor necrosis factor , (TNF-,) in plasma and ascitic fluid, plasma renin activity (PRA) and norepinephrine (NE), and systemic and hepatic hemodynamics were determined in 23 patients with SBP at diagnosis and after resolution of infection. Eight patients developed renal failure during treatment. At diagnosis of infection, patients developing renal failure showed significantly higher values of TNF-,, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), PRA and NE, peripheral vascular resistance, and hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) and lower cardiac output than patients not developing renal failure. During treatment, a significant reduction in cardiac output and arterial pressure and increase in PRA and NE, HVPG, and Child-Pugh score were observed in the first group but not in the second. Peripheral vascular resistance remained unmodified in both groups. Changes in PRA and NE correlated inversely with changes in arterial pressure and directly with changes in BUN, Child-Pugh score, and HVPG. Five patients in the renal failure group developed encephalopathy, and 6 died. In the group without renal failure, none of the patients developed encephalopathy or expired. In conclusion, patients with SBP frequently develop a rapidly progressive impairment in systemic hemodynamics, leading to severe renal and hepatic failure, aggravation of portal hypertension, encephalopathy, and death. This occurs despite rapid resolution of infection and is associated with an extremely poor prognosis. [source]


Plasma renin and the antihypertensive effect of the orally active renin inhibitor aliskiren in clinical hypertension

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 9 2007
J. Nussberger
Summary Background:, Aliskiren is the first in a new class of orally effective renin inhibitors for the treatment of hypertension. Methods:, In 569 patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension, blood pressure (BP), plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma renin concentration (PRC) were measured before and after 8 weeks of double-blind treatment with once-daily oral doses of aliskiren (150, 300 or 600 mg), irbesartan 150 mg or placebo. Results:, Aliskiren 150, 300 and 600 mg and irbesartan 150 mg significantly reduced mean cuff sitting systolic BP (SBP) from baseline (p < 0.001 vs. placebo). Aliskiren 150, 300 and 600 mg significantly reduced geometric mean PRA by 69%, 71% and 75% from baseline respectively (p < 0.05 vs. placebo). Irbesartan 150 mg significantly increased PRA by 109% (p < 0.05 vs. placebo). Aliskiren dose-dependently increased PRC from baseline by 157%, 246% and 497%, at 150, 300 and 600 mg respectively, compared with a 9% decrease with placebo (p < 0.05). PRC increased significantly more with aliskiren 300 and 600 mg compared with irbesartan 150 mg (105%; p < 0.05). Regression analysis showed no significant correlations between baseline PRA and changes in SBP in any of the treatment groups, but interestingly, the slopes of the regression lines between changes in SBP and log-transformed baseline PRA were +2.0 for placebo and ,1.5, ,1.8 and ,2.3 for aliskiren 150, 300 and 600 mg respectively. The slope for irbesartan 150 mg (,1.4) was similar to that for aliskiren 150 mg. Conclusions:, Aliskiren reduces SBP and PRA and increases PRC dose-dependently. In contrast, irbesartan reduces SBP but increases both PRC and PRA. As PRA is a measurement of angiotensin I-generating capacity, PRA can be used for measuring the ability of an antihypertensive agent to prevent the generation or action of Ang II, either directly (renin inhibitors, beta-blockers, central ,2 -agonists) or indirectly (AT1 -receptor blockers, ACE inhibitors). [source]


Retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy for juxtaglomerular cell tumor

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, Issue 12 2002
MASATO WATANABE
Abstract We present a case of juxtaglomerular cell tumor (JGCT) in a 20-year-old woman. She presented with hypertension and elevated plasma renin activity. Computed tomography without enhancement by contrast medium detected a tumor at the center of the left kidney. Retroperitoneoscopic left nephrectomy was performed and postoperatively her blood pressure and plasma renin activity returned to normal. This is the first report of retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy performed for a JGCT. [source]


TNF Alpha,308 Genotype and Renin,Angiotensin System in Hemodialysis Patients: An Effect on Inflammatory Cytokine Levels?

ARTIFICIAL ORGANS, Issue 2 2005
Gultekin Genctoy
Abstract:, Background: Renin,angiotensin system (RAS) was suggested to modulate inflammatory cytokine production. Angiotensin II was consistently shown to increase production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-,). However, inflammatory cytokines and RAS were modulated by genetic polymorphisms such as TNF-,,308 G > A and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) I/D gene polymorphisms. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ACE and TNF-, genotypes on inflammatory cytokines in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods: ACE I/D and TNF-,,308 G > A genotypes, pre- and postdialysis plasma renin activity (PRA), serum ACE, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1,), and TNF-, levels were determined in 22 HD patients. Results: Predialysis serum ACE activity is correlated with TNF-, (r = 0.63; P = 0.01), and PRA was correlated with IL-1, levels (r = 0.49; P = 0.02). Pre/postdialysis IL-1, and TNF-, were similar in DD and II/ID ACE genotypes. Predialysis TNF-, and IL-1, (32.4 ± 5; 35.1 ± 4.2 vs. 28.1 ± 3.7; 26.5 ± 6.2 pg/mL; P < 0.05) and postdialysis TNF-, levels (30.4 ± 1.4 vs. 28.4 ± 0.82 pg/mL; P < 0.05) were significantly higher in TNF1/2 than TNF1/1 patients. Conclusion: ACE and TNF-,,308 G > A (1/2) gene polymorphisms may contribute to modulation of proinflammatory cytokine production and hence chronic inflammation in HD patients. [source]


Hormonal alterations in adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 5 2010
Vegard Bruun Wyller
Abstract Aim:, The chronic fatigue syndrome is associated with alterations in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and cardiovascular autonomic nervous activity, suggesting a central dysregulation. This study explored differences among adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome patients and healthy controls regarding antidiuretic hormone, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone-system, sex hormones and cardiac peptides. Methods:, We included a consecutive sample of 67 adolescents aged 12,18 years with chronic fatigue syndrome diagnosed according to a thorough and standardized set of investigations, and a volunteer sample of 55 healthy control subjects of equal gender and age distribution. Hormones were assayed with standard laboratory methods. Results:, Among patients, plasma antidiuretic hormone was significantly decreased and serum osmolality and plasma renin activity were significantly increased (p , 0.001). Serum concentration of aldosterone, cortisol, NT-proBNP and sex hormones were not significantly different in the two groups. Conclusion:, Chronic fatigue syndrome in adolescents is associated with alterations in hormonal systems controlling osmolality and blood volume, possibly supporting a theory of central dysregulation. [source]


Renin Inhibitors in Chronic Heart Failure: The Aliskiren Observation of Heart Failure Treatment Study in Context

CLINICAL CARDIOLOGY, Issue 9 2010
FESC, FRACP, Henry Krum PhD
Renin-angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) activation is a key neurohormonal contributor to the progression of chronic heart failure. Strategies that block this activation have consistently demonstrated major beneficial impacts on morbidity and mortality in this setting. Direct renin inhibitors (DRIs) present a novel opportunity to block at an additional or alternative step in this pathway, that being conversion of angiotensinogen to angiotensin I. Theoretical benefits of blocking at the level of renin include: inhibition of the reflex activation of plasma renin activity induced by conventional downstream RAAS blockers. Minimization of angiotensin II and/or aldosterone escape and blocking upstream at the rate-limiting step of angiotensin I production. Preclinical and early-phase clinical studies have largely supported this hypothesis. In the Aliskiren Observation of Heart Failure Treatment study, patients with systolic chronic heart failure receiving background angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers and ,-blockers benefited from aliskiren in reduction vs placebo of plasma levels of brain natriuretic peptide, the primary efficacy endpoint of that study. Large-scale outcome trials are, however, required to definitively determine the benefits of a DRI strategy additional to, or as an alternative to, conventional approaches such as ACE inhibitors in the systolic chronic heart failure setting. Copyright © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. The authors have no funding, financial relationships, or conflicts of interest to disclose. [source]