Renovascular hypertension. Relationship between hepatic blood flow and plasma renin activity.

Hepatic blood flow and peripheral plasma renin activity were determined in 15 true renovascular hypertensive patients and in 13 patients with essential hypertension. In the renovascular hypertensives, plasma renin activity and hepatic blood flow were negatively correlated ( p less than 0.01). In contrast, no relationship was observed in the essential hypertensives. The study suggests that hyperactivity of the renin-angiotensin system could induce splanchnic arteriolar constriction in patients with renovascular hypertension.