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Endocrinologist

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Causes of increased and decreased renin

Alexey Kryvenko, medical expert
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025

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Diseases and conditions in which plasma renin activity may be altered

Renin is low

Excessive salt consumption
Adrenal cortex disorders: primary hyperaldosteronism; bilateral adrenal hyperplasia; adrenal cancer
Low renin hypertension
Acute renal failure
Liddle's syndrome
Use of diuretics, glucocorticosteroids, prostaglandins, estrogens

Renin is elevated

Secondary hyperaldosteronism
Renal parenchyma damage
Liver diseases (hepatitis, cirrhosis)
Primary adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease)
Right ventricular failure
Nephrosis, nephropathy
Renal artery stenosis
Activation of the sympathetic nervous system
Kidney cancer with hyperreninemia
Neuroblastoma
Bartter's syndrome (juxtaglomerular cell hyperplasia)