Aldosteronism after severe trauma.

Ten severely injured patients treated in an intensive care unit were investigated for secondary hyperaldosteronism. An increase in plasma aldosterone level was regularly found after trauma. Peak values, 253.3 +/- 196.0 ng/l, were registered immediately after admission to the hospital. The aldosterone concentrations then fell to 180.0 +/- 193.0 ng/l on the first day and 97.2 +/- 73.8 ng/l on the second day after the trauma. The reaction subsided within three days and subsequently plasma aldosterone concentrations remained within normal limits. Plasma renin concentrations were within normal limits during the eight post-traumatic days. High initial aldosterone values were recorded, especially in the thermally burned patients. In one case sodium depletion caused a prolonged secondary increase in the plasma aldosterone level.