Mildly raised corticosterone excretion rates in patients with essential hypertension.

In a large group of patients with untreated hypertension, excretion rates of tetrahydrocorticosterone (THB), allotetrahydrocorticosterone (alloTHB) and tetrahydro-11-dehydrocorticosterone (THA) were all significantly higher than in a group of matched normotensive controls. Using the sum of these metabolites as an index of corticosterone secretion rate suggests that this variable is also higher. The increase was small (all excretion rates remained within the normal range) and corticosterone has low glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid potency calling the clinical significance of this finding into question. However, it is possible that in combination with mildly deficient 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity such increases in corticosterone levels might affect blood pressure.