Summary
The behaviour of plasma renin, aldosterone, cortisol and prolactin after administration
of a drug with antidopaminergic action, metoclopramide, was evaluated in 6 normal
subjects, 8 patients affected by primary aldosteronism and in 5 patients affected
by anterior hypopituitarism.
In the first two groups, besides the predictable increase of prolactin under metoclopramide,
a significant aldosterone increase was noted. Cortisol remained unchanged, and PRA
was not significantly increased. A similar pattern of aldosterone, cortisol and PRA
was also found in patients with hypopituitarism. However, the plasma prolactin did
not increase in this group.
The comparative examination of three groups of patients leads us to conclude that
aldosterone increase is not imputable to ACTH, renin or to prolactin. This may be
explained by a possible direct effect of the antidopaminergic drug at the adrenal
level, which is more likely than an effect through some yet undetermined factor.
Key-Words:
Metoclopramide
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Dopamine
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Aldosterone
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PRA
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Cortisol
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Prolactin
