Levels of biologically active substances in the blood of patients responsive and unresponsive to antihypertensive therapy

Aim. To clarify the role of differences in the levels of some biologically active substances (BAS) in plasma of patients with resistance to therapy or without it measured before treatment, during treatment and application of plasmapheresis. Materials and methods. Resistance to therapy was assessed clinically and ac cording to 24-h monitoring in 35 patients aged 35-56 years with essential h ypertension (n = 19), related to chronic pyelonephritis (n = 13) and glomer ulonephritis (n = 3). Plasma BAS were studied by radio- and enzyme immunoas says. Results. Blood pressure monitoring provided more precise determination of t he treatment responders than clinical tests. Initially, responders to thera py had higher level of endotelin-1 and low of hydrocortisone. Conclusion. Responders to antihypertensive therapy were distinguished by a significant decrease of plasma aldosteron within a year vs aldosteron level s before the treatment. Nonresponders had no significant decrease of plasma aldosteron. No other marked differences in plasma BAS between the responde rs and nonresponders to antihypertensive treatment were found.