Plasma renin activity (PRA), plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) and 24 hour urinary sodium excretion were measured in 48 patients according to the severity of liver diseases; 13 patients with chronic hepatitis (controls), 16 patients have
liver
cirrhosis without ascites (group I), 19 patients have liver cirrhosis with ascites (group II).
@ES The results are summarized as following.
@EN 1) In patients of liver cirrhosis without ascites (group I), PRA (6.62±9.18 ng/ml/h), although higher, were not significantly different from controls (117.5±84.9 pg/ml) (p>0.05) PRA were normal in over 56% of cases, 9 of 16 patients. PAC
(194.25±275.97 pg/ml), although higher, were not significantly different from controls (117.5±84.9 pg/ml) (p>0.05). PAC were normal in over 50% of cases, 8 of 16 patients. 24 hour urinary sodium excretion (67.89±44.42mEq/dl) were not different
from
controls (54.07±25.87 mEq/dl) (p>0.05).
2) In patients of liver cirrhosis with ascites (group II), PRA (8.53±11.67 ng/ml/h) wee not significantly different from group I (p>0.05), but different trom controls (p>0.05). PRA were normal in eight of 19 pateitns (42%), which were little
than
group I. PAC (444.5±377.33 pg/ml) were not diffeent from control controls (p<0.05). PAC was normal in five of 19 patients (26.3%).
24 hour urinary sodium excretion was not correlated with PAC (r=0.2, p>0.05).
Our results suggest that PRC and PAC were increased to the severity of liver disease. but all patients were not increased, and PAC and 24 hour urinary sodium excretion were not correlated with PAC.
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