Abstract
The renal kallikrein-kinin system has been implicated in the control of local renal blood flow, salt and water excretion and blood pressure regulation. 1 Renal kallikrein is synthesized in the connecting tubule cells of the rat and human nephron. From here it may be secreted to the surrounding blood vessels or directly into the lumen of the tubule or to both. 2 Kallikrein releases kinins from plasma substrates called kininogens. Kinins are potent vasodilators and have natriuretic and diuretic properties. 1 Congestive heart failure (CHF) is characterized by an abnormal sodium and water retention and increased vascular resistance. The role of other vasoactive systems such as renin-angiotensin, prostaglandins and cathecolamines has been extensively studied. However, there is no information regarding participation of the renal kallikrein-kinin system in CHF. We determined urinary kallikrein in patients with CHF in different functional classes and we analyzed its relation with indexes of renal function and with other vasoactive systems such as plasma renin activity and circulating cathecolamines.
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