This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by OPARIL, S. Articles by HABER, E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by OPARIL, S. Articles by HABER, E.

(Circulation. 1970;41:89.)
© 1970 American Heart Association, Inc.

---

Role of Renin in Acute Postural Homeostasis

SUZANNE OPARIL M.D.¹; CARLOS VASSAUX M.D.¹; CHARLES A. SANDERS M.D.¹; EDGAR HABER M.D.¹

¹ From the Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and Cardiac Unit, Medical Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.

Plasma renin activity has been measured by radioimmunoassay at frequent intervals after passive upright tilting and correlated with pulse and blood pressure in normotensive man. In the normal response to upright posture, renin activity in both peripheral and renal veins increases consistently within a few minutes. The renin rise lags behind the increase in pulse rate and diastolic blood pressure. Renin activity falls to base-line level soon after return to the horizontal position. In the 25% of normal subjects who develop vasovagal syncope after upright tilting, the increase in renin activity is smaller in magnitude and duration than in the normal response. Renin levels fall just before syncope appears and rise sharply after return to the horizontal position. Anephric patients are able to effect adequate postural adjustments even in the absence of renin activity.

This study indicates that the renin angiotensin system participates in the acute response to postural change in normal man and that it functions abnormally in vasovagal syncope.

Key Words: Angiotensin • Cardiac catheterization • Posture • Sympathetic nervous system • Anephric • Vasovagal syncope • Hemodynamics

Submitted on August 1, 1969
Accepted on September 2, 1969

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. Geelen, T. Laitinen, J. Hartikainen, E. Lansimies, K. Bergstrom, and L. Niskanen Gender influence on vasoactive hormones at rest and during a 70{degrees} head-up tilt in healthy humans J Appl Physiol, April 1, 2002; 92(4): 1401 - 1408. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. E. Greenleaf, T. W. Petersen, A. Gabrielsen, B. Pump, P. Bie, N. J. Christensen, J. Warberg, R. Videbaek, S. R. Simonson, and P. Norsk Low LBNP tolerance in men is associated with attenuated activation of the renin-angiotensin system Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, September 1, 2000; 279(3): R822 - R829. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. L. Iabichella, G. Dell'Omo, E. Melillo, and R. Pedrinelli Calcium Channel Blockers Blunt Postural Cutaneous Vasoconstriction in Hypertensive Patients Hypertension, March 1, 1997; 29(3): 751 - 756. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				P.J. Lijnen, A.K. Amery, R.H. Fagard, and T.M. Reybrouck Relative Significance of Plasma Renin Activity and Concentration in Physiologic and Pathophysiologic Conditions Angiology, May 1, 1978; 29(5): 354 - 366. [PDF]

				A. C. Barger Regulation of Blood Pressure: Interaction of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System, the Autonomic Nervous System, and Sodium Balance Angiology, April 1, 1978; 29(4): 326 - 331. [PDF]