The effects of high and low salt diet on exaggerated natriuresis after volume expansion were examined in two groups of hypertensive patients, 6 with labile and 6 with fixed uncomplicated essential hypertension. Fixed hypertensives eliminated the administered salt-load faster than the labile hypertensives, and diet had no effect on the exaggerated natriuresis of both groups. No association was observed between plasma renin activity and natriuresis in both groups of patients. We conclude that, 1) diet did not affect the saline-induced natriuresis in hypertensive patients, 2) there was no apparent association between plasma renin activity and exaggerated natriuresis in hypertension, 3) other factors such as the capacitance system and vasopressin may play an important role in volume expansion natriuresis, especially in fixed hypertensives.