DER EINFLUSS HOHER KOCHSALZ-GABEN AUF DIE ALDOSTERON- UND ELEKTROLYTAUSSCHEIDUNG BEI GESUNDEN SCHWANGEREN

Abstract

ABSTRACT In order to determine what effect is produced on aldosterone excretion by the sodium retention observed in pre-eclampsia, a large dose of sodium was administered and the following were investigated: excretion of aldosterone, sodium, potassium, water, body weight, blood pressure and oedema formation. This investigation was performed on eleven women between the seventh and tenth months of pregnancy. The experimental period consisted of five (5) pre-test days, ten (10) days of actual testing and two (2) days after the test. During the test-period the patient received 18 g NaCl as a 1.8% i. v. solution daily. All the patients tolerated the infusions well. No definite changes in blood pressure, weight or oedema were noted. By intake and out-put measurements during the test period a sodium and water retention was found, while the potassium excretion remained unchanged. In all cases the values of aldosterone excretion (very high in pregnancy) were reduced as a result of salt-loading to about ⅕ of the pre-test period. In the post-experimental period the values returned to those of the pretest period. It is concluded that the lowered aldosterone excretion values in preeclampsia or eclampsia are caused by increased sodium retention, which also occurs in the sodium loading experiments.