RESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Angiotension II, the active component in the renin angiotensin system, modulates blood pressure via vasoconstriction and sodium retention. In normal subjects, the active level of the RAS is reflected by the plasma renin activity (PRA). Importantly, when blood pressure is elevated, the level of RAS is reactively suppressed, and that of PRA approaches zero. Therefore, this study was conducted to find the characteristics of hypertensive patients according to the level of circulating renin. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The subjects were 275 essential hypertensive patients, with a mean age of 53.2+/-11.9 years, 9.5% of which had diabetes. Patients were classified into 3 groups: low, normal and high renin (high PRA>4.5 ng/mL/h, normal PRA: 0.75-4.5 ng/mL/h and low PRA55 year-old) compared to younger patients (58.7 vs. 36.2%, both p<0.001). However, there were no significant differences in the hemodynamics (SBP, DBP and heart rate), LVMI and cardiovascular risk factors (obesity, dyslipidemia and diabetes) between the 3 groups. CONCLUSION: Women and elderly people are more likely to have LREH compare to men and younger people, who are more likely to have HREH.