Lead intoxication: its effect on the renin-aldosterone response to sodium deprivation.

Abstract

Dietary sodium restriction had an effect on the plasma renin activity (PRA) and aldosterone secretion rate (ASR) of nine men with lead intoxication. Eight of the men had become poisoned as a resuit of long-term ingestion of illicitly distilled whiskey, the ninth man had been exposed to lead fumes while employed in a battery factory. Following the administration of 120 mg of furosemide and the subsequent feeding of a diet low in sodium for five days, the PRA did not increase to the normal range in eight of the nine and the ASR did not increase to the normal range in seven. Four men deprived of sodium for an additional 7 to 28 days did not demonstrate increases in PRA or ASR of a magnitude expected in normal individuals; PRA actually decreased from the initial level in two of them, while the increases in ASR that did occur were below “normal” (with one exception) and appeared to be dissociated from the PRA. The findings suggest that lead is the toxic agent responsible for the abnormalities observed.