Hypertension after craniotomy is frequent. To establish an association between vasoactive modulators and postoperative hypertension, we followed the arterial blood pressure and plasma concentrations of selected substances in patients undergoing craniotomy. Twelve consecutive patients scheduled for operation of a supratentorial brain tumor were anesthetized with thiopental, fentanyl, isoflurane, and pancuronium. None of the patients had a history of arterial hypertension or were hypertensive before the operation. Arterial blood pressure and heart rate measurements were obtained preoperatively, after incision, during closure, and four times in the 50-minute interval after stopping isoflurane. At the same time, plasma concentrations of norepinephrine, epinephrine, renin, aldosterone, atrial natriuretic peptide, endothelin, and cortisol were measured. Data are given as mean +/- SD (range). The postoperative concentrations of these substances were significantly higher than the baseline concentrations measured preoperatively. Six of the patients developed postoperative hypertension defined as a mean arterial pressure (MAP) > 20% more than the baseline MAP (group H), and six had normal blood pressure postoperatively (group N). The mean value of the maximal postoperative MAPs measured in groups H and N, respectively, was 118 +/- 16 mm Hg (range: 96-132) and 103 +/- 9 mm Hg (range: 92-115) (P =.01). Only renin levels were higher intraoperatively in group H when compared to group N. However, postoperative levels of catecholamines, aldosterone, renin, and endothelin levels were higher in group H patients. The results suggest that in addition to an increased discharge of the sympathetic system, activation of the renin-angiotensin aldosterone system may also play an important role in the development of postoperative hypertension after craniotomy.