Renin activity and aldosterone level in the plasma of children with lipoid nephrosis

: In 16 children with steroid-responsive nephrotic syndrome (with minimal changes in the glomeruli) the plasma renin activity and aldosterone level were determined during recurrence of the nephrotic syndrome at the stage of oedema increase (FEN alpha 0.25%) and in early period of remission. Plasma renin activity was raised in all cases suggesting presence of hypovolaemia. Since it was not possible to establish a correlation between plasma renin activity and albumin level, as well as between this activity and aldosterone level, and aldosterone level and sodium excretion it may be surmised that the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system has no decisive role in the pathogenesis of the nephrotic syndrome. The mechanism of oedema development is doubtlessly more complex.