Renin Assay: Part 1. Study on Plasma Renin Activity in Various Diseases

1. Present study was made to observe the plasma renin activity in the patients of benign essential hypertension, malignant hypertension, acute or chronic glomerulonephritis, liver cirrhosis with or without ascites, congestive heart failure, and massive bleeding due to various causes. 2. It was found that the substance with constrictive action on the rat colon had the hypertensive action. 3. The normotensive group showed the renin activity of 1.81+/-1.18ng/ml. 4. Benign hypertension group showed the level of 3.14+/-3.27 ng/ml which was the significantly elevated level compared to the normal group. 5. Malignant hypertensive group showed 8.47+/-9.48 ng/ml, which was not only the apparently elevated value than that of normal group, but also showed significant difference from that of benign essential hypertension. 6. The levels of 5.6+/-2.88 ng/ml and 27.5+/-12.36 ng/ml in chronic and acute glomerulonephritis respectively showed the significantly elevated level than the normal group, and the difference between the acute and chronic glomerulonephritis was also found to be significant. 7. The hepatic cirrhosis with or without ascites showed the level of 3.77+/-2.83 ng/ml and 0.80+/-0. ng/ml respectively. The value of the former was the significantly elevated compared with the normal group, and the later was lowered. 8. The level of 11.11+/-4.12 ng/ml was significantly elevated compared to that of normal group in congestive heart failure. 9. It is suggested that the renin activity assumes to be changed to the kind and the phase of the diseases and according to present data of elevated renin activity in essential hypertension, renin may play a secondary role in essential hypertension rather than to be a primary.

A Statistical Study on Arrhythmias of the Aged

A statistical study was done on arrhythmia of the aged who were older than 60 during the period 1963~1972 at Seoul national University Hospital. This study included 6,511 patients among 40,000 total patients. The results were as follows. 1) Arrhythmias were observed among 3,058 patients(46.97%). Sinus irregularitis were the most frequent arrhythmia. 2) Except sinus irregularities premature beat (38.3%), atrial fibrillation (16.1%), bundle branch block (10.5%), atriovenricular block (10.5%), atrioventricular escape beat (5.1%), atrioventricular junctional rhythm (4.9%), wandering pacemaker(4.0%) and paroxysmal tachycardia(2.5%) were frequent arrhythmias. 3) Cardiovascular disease was major underlying disease. In cardiovascular disease group, the incidence of arrhythmia was 51.15% which was three times as high as non-cardiovascular and normal group. 4) Most arrhythmias were more frequently observed among the aged except bundle branch block and ventricular paroxysmal tachycardia. 5) The incidence of arrhythmia was similar among the aged except pre-excitation syndrome which was predisposed to woman. 6) Arrhythmia was most frequently observed in coronary heart disease. 7) Among sinus irregularities, simus bradycardia was more frequent in the aged. 8) There were no significant differences in frequency of arrhythmia between non-cardiovascular disease group patients and normal group.

Propranolol Hcl in Patients with Angina Pectoris

A double-blind trial of the efficacy of propranolol hydrochloride a new beta adrenergic blocking agent, in the prophylactic treatment of angina pectoris was conducted in 9 patients. Through the trial period of 8 weeks to more than 26 weeks, the patients received propranolol and placebo for equal period. Following are the results. 1. The effective dose of propranolol hydrochloride in the prophylactic treatment of angina pectoris was 80 mg to 120 mg per day. 2. The effectiveness of propranolol hydrochloride was manifested by a reduction in frequency of pain to 40.7%, in nitroglycerin comsumption to 38.8% and by an increase in exercise tolerance. 3. Obseved side effects were transient nausea, vomiting and bradycardia, which were improved with reduction in drug dosage. 4. Further clinical and experimental information may be necessary in order to assess the long-term effects of propranolol hydrochloride.