Prorenin and beta-blockade in hypertension.

The role of prorenin in relation to beta-blockade has received little attention. We have studied both active renin and prorenin before and during treatment of hypertension with either nadolol or metoprolol in 44 patients. The ratio of active renin to prorenin before treatment was the best predictor of response; the fall in active renin with treatment did not correlate with the fall in blood pressure, whereas prorenin showed an inverse correlation. We suggest that plasma prorenin is an important indicator of the renin status in hypertensive patients.