This study was designed to evaluate the role of aldosterone, glomerular filtration and blood pressure on sodium excretion in renal disease. Sodium clearance (CNa), plasma aldosterone (PA), plasma renin activity (PRA), glomerular filtration rate (GF), paraaminohippurate clearance (CPAH) and blood pressure were measured simultaneously in 19 normal subjects, 38 patients with benign essential hypertension, 3 with renal artery stenosis, 48 with chronic glomerulonephritis, 20 with the nephrotic syndrome, 24 with tubulo-interstitial disease and 21 with a renal homograft. CNa was significantly depressed in patients with the nephrotic syndrome. Mean PA and PRA were increased in renal artery stenosis but within the normal range in other groups. CNa correlated inversely with PA in all groups but one (tubulo-interstitial disease). CNa correlated directly with GF in the nephrotic syndrome and with the mean blood pressure (mBP) in chronic glomerulonephritis and tubulo-interstitial disease. PA correlated directly with PRA and inversely with GF or CPAH in most groups. It is concluded that PA is an important determinant of the basal natriuresis in renal disease with the exception of tubulo-interstitial nephropathies. In the nephrotic syndrome sodium retention is largely determined by the interaction of PA and GF. In chronic nephropathies, but not in benign essential hypertension, the fractional sodium excretion is partly blood pressure-dependent. Impairment of renal function is often accompanied by a rise in PA.