Dysregulation of adrenal 11 beta-hydroxylase activity in hypertensive subjects: usefulness of the ACTH 1-17 stimulation test.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine the validity of our previous hypothesis of adrenal 11 beta-hydroxylase (11-OH) dysregulation in "essential" low-renin hypertension.


RESULTS
A comparison was made between 30 hypertensive patients and 30 age-matched controls (NC) in basal conditions and after ACTH stimulation (ACTH 1-17) test. The 11-deoxycortisol (S) and deoxycorticosterone (DOC) integrated areas under the curve (AUCs) of stimulus were significantly higher in the hypertensives (p < 0.001) and pointed to adrenal 11-OH dysregulation.


CONCLUSIONS
The ACTH 1-17 test detects impairment of 11-OH activity of probable genetic origin. The relative mineralocorticoid excess thus provoked could be an additional cause of "essential" low-renin hypertension.
Valentino
R
R
Centro di Endocrinologia ed Oncologia Sperimentale (CEOS) del CNR Dipartimento di Biologia e Patologia Cellulare e Molecolare, Università degli Studi Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Tommaselli
A P
AP
Savastano
S
S
Scarpitta
M T
MT
Dorato
M
M
Luciano
A
A
Calvanese
E
E
Lombardi
G
G
D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000304:Adrenal Cortex Function Tests; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D000328:Adult; D019540:Area Under Curve; D003350:Cortodoxone / Q000097:blood; D003900:Desoxycorticosterone / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D013252:Steroid 11-beta-Hydroxylase / Q000378:metabolism*
D010446:Peptide Fragments; D003900:Desoxycorticosterone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D013252:Steroid 11-beta-Hydroxylase; C028238:ACTH (1-17); D003350:Cortodoxone