Increased Adrenal Sensitivity to Angiotensin II in Idiopathic Hyperaldosteronism*

Plasma aldosterone increases briskly during upright posture in patients with idiopathic hyperaldosteronism, despite only small increases in PRA and presumably small increases in angiotensin II. To examine the postulate that small increments in angiotensin II mediate these brisk increases in aldosterone, we infused graded doses of angiotensin II into normal subjects and patients with idiopathic hyperaldosteronism and compared the changes in levels of plasma aldosterone in the two groups. Supplemental sodium and dexamethasone were given before the infusion to minimize the influence of endogenous angiotensin II and ACTH. In response to the infusion of angiotensin II, increases in the levels of plasma aldosterone of patients with idiopathic hyperaldosteronism were significantly greater than those of normal subjects. In addition, levels of plasma aldosterone increased at a lower rate of infusion of angiotensin II in patients than in normal subjects. It is concluded that patients with idiopathic hyperaldosteronism have increased adrenal sensitivity to angiotensin II. This increased sensitivity may explain the brisk increases in aldosterone that occur during upright posture in these patients.