INVOLVEMENT OF THE HYPOTHALAMUS-PITUITARY -ADRENAL SYSTEM IN EMOTIONAL STRESS-INDUCED ELEVATION OF BLOOD-PRESSURE IN ARTERIAL-HYPERTENSION

The study was undertaken to examine 30 healthy males and 67 patients w ith arterial hypertension. The author studied urinary excretion of 17- KS and blood levels of cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone before and after emotional stress induced by the ''hour/compass'' test. It w as found that due to the stress, the release of the metabolites cortic osteroids was higher in intensity than changes in blood concentrations of cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone in borderline hypertensio n and Stage I hypertensive disease, whereas these parameters were in a n inverse ratio in Stage II hypertensive disease. Such changes occurre d in patients with secondary hypertension. The ratio should be used as a diagnostic test.