Adrenal Cortical Function in Benign Essential Hypertension

The mean daily production of cortisol and corticosterone, as well as the daily urinary excretion of free and total Porter-Silber chromogens, pregnanetriol and pregnanediol, were determined in patients with benign essential hypertension, and were compared with those of normal controls. No statistically significant differences between the groups were observed either in production of cortisol and corticosterone or in excretion of free and conjugated Porter-Silber chromogens. The excretion of pregnanetriol and pregnanediol, however, was significantly decreased in patients with essential hypertension.