Plasma renin activity in oedematous and marasmic children with protein energy malnutrition
van der Westhuysen, J.M.; Kanengoni, E.; Jones, J.J.; van Niekerk, C.H.
South African Medical Journal 49(42): 1729-1731
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0256-9574 PMID: 810900 Document Number: 90257
Plasma renin activity was measured by bioassay in 52 children with kwashiorkor, in 28 with marasmus and in 21 healthy children. Plasma renin activity was significantly greater in children with kwashiorkor and marasmus than in healthy children, and in children who died than in survivors. No strict causal relation could be found between plasma renin activity and the degree of oedema in kwashiorkor. Increased renin activity probably results from a terminal change in cardiovascular function.