The excretion of androstenedione and the sulfate and glucuronide fractions of androsterone, etiocholanolone, and dehydroepiandrosterone has been measured in the urine of male and female "essential" hypertensives and normotensives by gas–liquid chromatography. Aldosterone was measured by a double isotope derivative procedure. Excretion of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and etiocholanolone glucuronide was significantly reduced (P < 0.001) in the urine of the hypertensive group, whereas excretion of androsterone glucuronide (P < 0.01) and androstenedione (P < 0.01) was increased. The androsterone/etiocholanolone ratio was also increased from 1.45 ± 0.79 (S.D.) in the normotensive group to 3.94 ± 2.19 (S.D.) in the hypertensive group (P < 0.001), suggesting a relative 5β-reductase activity deficiency in "essential" hypertension.It was concluded that the markedly decreased excretion of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate found in this study and another was not a consequence of a modified peripheral metabolism.