| |
|
Click on the first letter in the test name:
Plasma renin activity Article
|
|
Plasma renin activity aldosterone adh
Definition
Renin is an protein (enzyme) released into the bloodstream by special kidney cells. It is released in response to decreasing salt (sodium) levels or low blood volume. Renin plays a role in the release of aldosterone, a hormone that helps control the body's salt and water balance.
A test can be done to measure the amount of renin in your blood.
Alternative Names
Plasma renin activity; Random plasma renin; PRA
Why the Plasma renin activity is Performed
This test is performed as part of the diagnosis and treatment of high blood pressure.
Persons with essential hypertension may have renin and aldosterone levels checked to evaluate if they are salt-sensitive, which causes a low renin with normal aldosterone levels. The test results helps to guide your doctor in choosing the correct medication. Salt-sensitive patients with high blood pressure associated with low renin levels respond well to diuretic medications.
How the Plasma renin activity is Performed
Blood is drawn from a vein, usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The site is cleaned with germ-killing medicine (antiseptic). The health care provider wraps an elastic band around the upper arm to apply pressure to the area and make the vein swell with blood.
Next, the health care provider gently inserts a needle into the vein. The blood collects into an airtight vial or tube attached to the needle. The elastic band is removed from your arm.
Once the blood has been collected, the needle is removed, and the puncture site is covered to stop any bleeding.
In infants or young children, a sharp tool called a lancet may be used to puncture the skin and make it bleed. The blood collects into a small glass tube called a pipette, or onto a slide or test strip. A bandage may be placed over the area if there is any bleeding.
How to Prepare for the Plasma renin activity
Your health care provider may tell you to temporarily stop taking certain drugs that can affect test results.
Drugs that can affect renin measurements include:
- Birth control pills
- Blood pressure medications
- Diurectics
- Vasodilators
You should eat a normal, balanced diet with low-sodium content (about 3 gm/day) for 3 days before the test.
How the Plasma renin activity Will Feel
When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain, while others feel only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.
Risks
Veins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others.
Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight but may include:
- Excessive bleeding
- Fainting or feeling light-headed
- Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
- Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)
Considerations
Renin measurements are affected by salt intake, pregnancy, time of day, and body position.
Normal Results
Normal values range from 1.9 to 3.7 ng/mlL/hour.
Note: Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.
What Abnormal Results Mean
Higher-than-normal levels may indicate:
- Addison's disease
- Cirrhosis
- Essential hypertension
- Hemorrhage (bleeding)
- Hypokalemia
- Malignant hypertension
- Renin-producing renal tumors
- Renovascular hypertension
Lower-than-normal levels may indicate:
- ADH therapy
- Salt-retaining steroid therapy
- Salt-sensitive essential hypertension
Email to a Friend
Typical mistypes for Plasma renin activity
olasma renin activity, llasma renin activity, -lasma renin activity, 0lasma renin activity, pkasma renin activity, ppasma renin activity, poasma renin activity, plzsma renin activity, plssma renin activity, plwsma renin activity, plqsma renin activity, plaama renin activity, plazma renin activity, plaxma renin activity, pladma renin activity, plaema renin activity, plawma renin activity, plasna renin activity, plaska renin activity, plasja renin activity, plasmz renin activity, plasms renin activity, plasmw renin activity, plasmq renin activity, plasma eenin activity, plasma denin activity, plasma fenin activity, plasma tenin activity, plasma 5enin activity, plasma 4enin activity, plasma rwnin activity, plasma rsnin activity, plasma rdnin activity, plasma rrnin activity, plasma r4nin activity, plasma r3nin activity, plasma rebin activity, plasma remin activity, plasma rejin activity, plasma rehin activity, plasma renun activity, plasma renjn activity, plasma renkn activity, plasma renon activity, plasma ren9n activity, plasma ren8n activity, plasma renib activity, plasma renim activity, plasma renij activity, plasma renih activity, plasma renin zctivity, plasma renin sctivity, plasma renin wctivity, plasma renin qctivity, plasma renin axtivity, plasma renin avtivity, plasma renin aftivity, plasma renin adtivity, plasma renin acrivity, plasma renin acfivity, plasma renin acgivity, plasma renin acyivity, plasma renin ac6ivity, plasma renin ac5ivity, plasma renin actuvity, plasma renin actjvity, plasma renin actkvity, plasma renin actovity, plasma renin act9vity, plasma renin act8vity, plasma renin acticity, plasma renin actibity, plasma renin actigity, plasma renin actifity, plasma renin activuty, plasma renin activjty, plasma renin activkty, plasma renin activoty, plasma renin activ9ty, plasma renin activ8ty, plasma renin activiry, plasma renin activify, plasma renin activigy, plasma renin activiyy, plasma renin activi6y, plasma renin activi5y, plasma renin activitt, plasma renin activitg, plasma renin activith, plasma renin activitu, plasma renin activit7, plasma renin activit6, lasma renin activity, pasma renin activity, plsma renin activity, plama renin activity, plasa renin activity, plasm renin activity, plasmarenin activity, plasma enin activity, plasma rnin activity, plasma rein activity, plasma renn activity, plasma reni activity, plasma reninactivity, plasma renin ctivity, plasma renin ativity, plasma renin acivity, plasma renin actvity, plasma renin actiity, plasma renin activty, plasma renin activiy, plasma renin activit, lpasma renin activity, palsma renin activity, plsama renin activity, plamsa renin activity, plasam renin activity, plasm arenin activity, plasmar enin activity, plasma ernin activity, plasma rnein activity, plasma reinn activity, plasma renni activity, plasma reni nactivity, plasma renina ctivity, plasma renin cativity, plasma renin atcivity, plasma renin acitvity, plasma renin actviity, plasma renin actiivty, plasma renin activtiy, plasma renin activiyt, pplasma renin activity, pllasma renin activity, plaasma renin activity, plassma renin activity, plasmma renin activity, plasmaa renin activity, plasma renin activity, plasma rrenin activity, plasma reenin activity, plasma rennin activity, plasma reniin activity, plasma reninn activity, plasma renin activity, plasma renin aactivity, plasma renin acctivity, plasma renin acttivity, plasma renin actiivity, plasma renin activvity, plasma renin activiity, plasma renin activitty, plasma renin activityy, etc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
