Abstract
Elevated plasma renin activity was found in 6 out of 7 essential hypotensive patients. This was taken to reflect some abnormality in sodium handling, and they were treated with synthetic calcium glycyrrhetinyl-glycinate (G. G.), a water soluble derivative of glycyrrhetinic acid which was derived from licorice. G. G. was administrated in doses of 300mg to 1200mg daily for 3 to 9 weeks. Both the systolic (25.8±10.0mmHg) and diastolic (19.2±9.8mmHg) blood pressure successfully elevated and improvement or resolution of clinical symptoms was noted in 6 patients. Marked supression in plasma renin activity (2.7±1.2ng/ml/hr) and plasma aldosterone concentration (8.1±3.1ng/100ml) with mild reduction in serum potassium concentration (1.0±0.4mEq/L) were concomitantly observed. One patient did not respond at all to G. G. Adverse reactions were mild in all but one who had frank edema.
