HIGH PLASMA ANTI-DIURETIC HORMONE IN PATIENTS WITH CARDIAC-FAILURE - INFLUENCE OF AGE

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 8  (5) , 267-274
Abstract
Plasma antidiuretic hormone (ADH) was greater in patients with cardiac failure than in healthy subjects. Plasma ADH increased significantly with age in both groups. Covariance analysis showed that the difference between patients and controls occurred whatever the age. Plasma Na and plasma osmolality were lower in cardiac patients than in healthy subjects. Increase in plasma ADH observed in patients was inappropriate since it coexisted with inhibitory levels of plasma osmolality. Plasma creatinine was greater in cardiac patients than in healthy subjects and for each group in elderly than in young people. There was no significant correlation between plasma ADH and creatinine. Apparently, increase in plasma ADH observed in cardiac failure was due more to an augmented release than to a diminished catabolism. No clear influence of etiology, severity, length of the disease and treatment with diuretics could be demonstrated.