THE CAPTOPRIL TEST IN CHILDREN WITH RENOVASCULAR AND RENAL-HYPERTENSION

We used the captopril test (CT) in 32 children, 8 with renovascular hy pertension (RVH), 17 with renal hypertension (RH) and 7 with normal bl ood pressure, in order to study the renin-angiotensin system activatio n (RASA). All children affected by RVH presented a positive CT: a post -captopril plasma renin activity (PRA) of 12 ng ml(-1) h(-1) or more, an absolute PRA increase of 10 ng ml(-1) h(-1) or more and a 150% incr ease or more, or 400% or more if the baseline PRA was less than 3 ng m l(-1) h(-1). The CT may be useful for demonstrating the RASA in RVH.