INFLUENCE OF SODIUM NITRITE ON THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM AND ON RENAL ACTIVITY: IN HEALTH, IN ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION AND IN RENAL DISEASE

The nitrites are chiefly used in the treatment of angina pectoris and related angiospastic disorders; nevertheless they have been and are being widely employed therapeutically for patients with arterial hypertension. In the present study it was desired to investigate the clinical effects of sodium nitrite on normal persons, on patients with primary arterial hypertension, with or without involvement of the kidneys, and on patients with certain other renal disorders. In addition to observations of the clinical state of the patient, cardiac rate and arterial blood pressure, determinations of the cardiac output were performed; and in particular, investigations were undertaken as to the nature of changes in the renal function as measured by the volume of urine, the urea clearance test of Van Slyke and the creatinine filtrate method of Rehberg. In view of the fact that the nitrites produce vasodilatation and often lower the arterial blood pressure, the effect on