Effects of indomethacin on the vascular abnormalities of Bartter's syndrome.

We examined the hypothesis that the vascular abnormalities of Bartter's syndrome are due to excess production of prostaglandin. Balance studies and vascular reactivity studies were performed before and after indomethacin (200 mg/day) in a patient with well-documented Bartter's syndrome. During indomethacin, potassium balance became positive, serum potassium rose from 2.1--3 mEq/1 in the absence of potassium supplementation, plasma renin activity decreased from 55--3.2 ng/day and peripheral plasma PGA-like activity fell from 1460 +/- 220 to 456 +/- 71 pg/ml. Before indomethacin, forearm vasoconstrictor responses to brachial arterial infusions of angiotensin II, norepinephrine and to neurogenic reflex stimulation elicited by lower body suction were greatly depressed compared to those of normal subjects. During indomethacin these responses were restored to normal. The dose of intravenous angiotensin II required to increase diastolic blood pressure 20 mm Hg decreased from 160--30 ng/kg/min. These data support the hypothesis that the vascular insensitivity to exogenous angiotensin II, norepinephrine and to neurogenic reflex stimulation observed in this patient with Bartter's syndrome is due to excess prostaglandin. Moreover, stimulation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in this syndrome appears to be a compensatory adaptation to excess prostaglandin production.