[Effect of the angiotensin antagonist saralasin (1-sar-8-ala-angiotensin II) on the blood pressure in secondary hypertension].

The angiotensin antagonist saralasin (1-sar-8-ala-angiotensin II) was given to 27 patients with different forms of secondary hypertension. The blood pressure fell in 6 of 7 patients with renal artery stenosis and in 4 of 10 patients with terminal renal failure on regular hemodialysis. No change or a rise in blood pressure was observed in 3 patients with Cushing's syndrome, 4 patients with primary aldosteronism, 3 patients with hypertension and a unilateral small kidney of other than renovascular origin, and 6 patients with terminal renal failure. It can be concluded from the results that angiotensin II is involved in the pathogenesis of renovascular hypertension and in some cases of hypertension accompanying chronic renal failure.