Bartter's syndrome. Differentiation into two clinical groups
W. L. Robson, G. S. Arbus and J. W. Balfe
We were able to separate Bartter's syndrome patients into two groups: Group
1 patients are seen at a young age, with hyponatremia and episodes of
extracellular volume contraction. Group 2 patients are older and most have
tetany; plasma sodium values and renal sodium balances are normal. Plasma
potassium values are lower and plasma renin activity and plasma magnesium
levels are higher in group 1 than in group 2. It may be that all patients
with Bartter's syndrome manifest the features of both groups, group 1
patients with time developing into group 2 patients. These observations
have important implications in the treatment of patients with Bartter's
syndrome.
