Research into role of adrenal hormone

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32779, 2 December 1971, Page 5

Research into role of adrenal hormone

* Dr E. A. Espiner, of Princess Margaret Hospital, plans to use a grant from the ; National Heart Foundation to continue research into the role of hormones secreted 2 by the adrenal glands in disorders of the • heart and circulation.

- Dr Espiner received a grant of $5OOO to continue research with a team of colleagues. He said it had been known for some time that the adrenal gland hormone, aldosterone, played a vital role in health in maintaining normal blood pressure as well as in controlling the volume of body fluids.

In some patients, however, excess aldosterone output from the adrenal gland was responsible for high blood pressure, and these patients might be cured if recognised, by appropriate surgery. Newer methods had made it possible to measure the minute quantities of aldosterone normally present in blood, and it was hoped that the application of these methods would lead to improved recognition and treatment of such patients. HEART FAILURE These newer methods of measuring adrenal hormones would also be applied to patients with heart failure, kidney and liver disease where excess tissue fluid was retained.

The reasons for the excess fluid retention in such patients were largely unknown, although the adrenal hormone, aldosterone, had been implicated. Dr Espiner said the research made possible by the grant would have the object of demonstrating the importance of the hormone responses and how they affected treatment of patients with disorders of the circulation.