Sensitivity to Aldosterone

Abstract

See related article, p 1212–1218 In this issue, Tu et al1 show clear differences in sensitivity of blood pressure (BP) to aldosterone between blacks and those of predominantly white ancestry, in both children and adults. It has long been known that blacks are more salt sensitive than whites: this contribution thus complements the previous findings and has ramifications for the role of aldosterone across the board. The article reports the unusual combination of a long-term (>20 years) observational study on children aged 5 to 17 years starting in 1986 and an acute intervention study comparing the effects of fludrocortisone administration for 2 weeks on BP, weight, and hormonal parameters in black and white adults. The long-term study enrolled 580 children (266 blacks, 314 whites). Age, height, weight, systolic and diastolic BP (DBP), concentrations of plasma electrolytes (Na+ K+), plasma aldosterone (PAC), and renin activity (PRA) were measured, plus urinary excretion of Na+, K+, and creatinine. At baseline, black children were on average 18 months older, with a higher body mass index and slightly but significantly higher BP (103/43 versus 100/41 mm Hg). They also showed significantly lower PAC (9 versus 14 ng/dL) and PRA levels (2.8 versus 3.3 ng/mL per hour), with indistinguishable plasma [K+] and overnight urinary excretion levels of K+ and Na+. In the subsequently re-enrolled adult subcohort, the blacks were 17 months younger, with higher body mass index (31 versus 28) but identical systolic and DBP (116/74 mm Hg). They had lower levels of PRA (1.0 versus 1.5 ng/mL per hour) and PAC (5 versus 9 ng/dL), with levels of plasma K+ and BP indistinguishable from those in whites. Urinary Na+ excretion was similar (78 versus 81 nmol/mg creatinine), but K+ excretion …