CORTISOL EXCRETION IN ESSENTIAL-HYPERTENSION

A number of factors suggest that abnormalities of the adrenal cortex a re present in essential hypertension. To determine whether altered cor tisol excretion exists in essential hypertension, we have measured uri nary free cortisol and cortisol to creatinine ratios in early morning urine specimens for 14 consecutive days. We have established a referen ce range for these parameters in 26 normotensive subjects. We have als o compared these values in nine normotensive subjects and nine patient s with essential hypertension closely matched for age, sex and body ma ss index. In the 26 normotensive subjects, urinary free cortisol was 2 40 +/- 13 nmol/l (mean+/-s.e.m) and cortisol to creatinine ratio was 2 2 +/- 1. In the nine hypertensive subjects, urinary free cortisol was 238 +/- 48 nmol/l and cortisol to creatinine ratio was 20 +/- 3. We ha ve not demonstrated an abnormality of cortisol excretion in essential hypertension.