The effects of MK 422 (enalaprilic acid) on renal function and electrolyte excretion were assessed in 14 patients with essential hypertension on a sodium intake of 100 mmol/day. Injection of MK 422 led to a prompt fall in blood pressure (p less than 0.01). Effective renal plasma flow increased by 9 +/- 4% (p less than 0.01) within 1 hour, an increase that persisted for a least 5 hours. Glomerular filtration rate did not change, so filtration fraction decreased by 6 +/- 2% (p less than 0.01). Sodium excretion increased with a maximum of 61 +/- 17% (p less than 0.01) after 5 hours, and potassium excretion fell (p less than 0.01). The log of the initial plasma renin activity correlated with the changes in blood pressure (r = 0.59, p less than 0.05) in effective renal plasma flow (r = 0.59, p less than 0.05) and in sodium excretion (r = 0.65, p less than 0.01). All the renal effects of MK 422 could be reversed by infusion with angiotensin II.