Do weak mineralocorticoids affect the pathogenesis of hypertension in Cushing's disease?

Few studies have examined the effect of the weak mineralocorticoids corticosterone, 18-hydroxycorticosterone and 18-hydroxydeoxycorticosterone on the pathogenesis of hypertension in Cushing's disease. Therefore we measured plasma levels of these mineralocorticoids together with plasma aldosterone, plasma renin activity and the aldosterone secretion rate in 12 patients with Cushing's disease and in seven patients with essential hypertension. Plasma levels of aldosterone, corticosterone, 18-hydroxycorticosterone and 18-hydroxydeoxycorticosterone and the aldosterone secretion rate were similar in both groups of patients. Plasma renin activity, determined after 4 h of ambulation, was significantly higher in Cushing's disease than in essential hypertension. We conclude that it is unlikely that either aldosterone or the weak mineralocorticoids corticosterone, 18-hydroxycorticosterone and 18-hydroxydeoxycorticosterone play a specific role in the pathogenesis of hypertension in Cushing's disease.