Plasma active renin concentration in children.

ABSTRACT

In normal children aged one month to 16 years, the plasma active renin concentration (PARC) was measured with a renin immunoradiometricassay (IRMA) kit, and was compared with plasma renin activity (PRA). The IRMA for renin was found to be independent of the amount of renin substrate and not affected by the dilution of plasma samples, and was therefore proved to be a simple and reliable method. PRA measured in non-diluted plasma samples correlated well with PARC. In the age-related change, PARC in infants was significantly higher than that in older children. In infants, PARC was markedly higher in the crying state than that in the non-crying state. In normal children aged 7 to 11 years, PARC was significantly increased in the upright position compared to the supine position. These findings suggest that a hyperresponse of PARC to acute stress during blood sampling may cause an increase in active renin secretion in infants, and that stimulation by short-term standing may accelerate the activation of inactive renin or the release of active renin.