title: Pituitary - adrenocortical function in patients during treatment with the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril.
abstract: To study effects on pituitary-adrenocortical activity of a sustained block of angiotensin II formation, six 'drug-resistant' patients with essential hypertension were studied before and during treatment with an inhibitor of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (Captopril, SQ 14,225). The drug was given in increasing doses (100-400 mg/day) for 2 weeks whilst patients received a moderately restricted sodium intake (60-80 mmol/day). Immunoreactive ACTH, cortisol, aldosterone, plasma renin activity (PRA) and the activity of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) were measured in blood samples drawn at 0800-0900 h. Urinary excretion of cortisol and aldosterone were measured in 24-h urine collections. Further information on pituitary-adreno-cortical function was obtained by measuring serial plasma corticosteroid levels after submaximal stimulation with a synthetic ACTH preparation. ACTH and cortisol did not change an observation which does not support the hypothesis that glucocorticoid activity is influenced by a decrease in plasma angiotensin II concentrations.
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D000328:Adult; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D002216:Captopril / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010912:Pituitary-Adrenal Function Tests; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011392:Proline / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000450:Aldosterone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D011392:Proline; D002216:Captopril; D012964:Sodium; D006854:Hydrocortisone