The urinary levels of catecholamines, aldosterone and cortisol in hypertensive East Africans: a pilot study.

Abstract

This pilot project studies the prevalence of hypertension among unique social groups in Kenya, as well as the hormonal profiles accompanying the hypertensive and normotensive states in these populations. The purpose of this report is to enlarge and improve upon the statistical data currently available concerning the prevalence, etiology and prognosis of hypertensive disease in this region. In this study, the urinary concentrations of three vasoactive metabolites were measured in hypertensive and normotensive outpatients. The excretion values for the metabolites were ultimately tabulated as the quantity excreted per milligram of creatinine. The results demonstrate that the subjects with elevated blood pressures (>140/90 mm Hg) excreted double the concentrations (ng/mg creatinine) of cortisol and aldosterone excreted by normotensives. There were no apparent differences in urinary catecholamines between hypertensives and normotensives.