Plasma renin activity studies in a group of African neonates and children.

Plasma Renin Activity (PRA) was determined in a group of 50 Cameroonian newborns and 50 Cameroonian children aged 1-15 years under resting conditions in order to establish baseline values, and also to investigate the relationship between PRA distribution, and blood pressure levels, age, or body weight. Mean PRA values were 0.98 +/- 0.78 ng/ml/h at birth and 1.17 +/- 0.92 ng/ml/h in older children. These values did not correlate with birth weight, age, or blood pressure levels. These results are lower than figures reported in comparable groups of American white and black children, and also in European or Asian children.