Impairment of antidiuretic hormone and atrial natriuretic peptide regulation in the obese woman with a swelling syndrome and an increase in capillary permeability to albumin.

In obese women with a swelling syndrome: (1) The higher increase in the urinary albumin excretion rate after water loading followed by a sustained upright position suggests a widespread alteration in capillary function, which is also indicated by the isotopic test of capillary permeability to albumin. (2) The water load-induced inhibition of ADH secretion and stimulation of ANP secretion or ANP activity, more defective in the upright position than in the recumbent one, is probably another major contributing factor to orthostatic oedema.