Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. A method for the prevention, for delaying the progression or for the treatment of pathological states which are caused or partly caused by hyperaldosteronism in a patient, which comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula (I) to a patient in need thereof, ##STR00007## W is C or, if Z is a bond and X is C, is also N;X is C or, if Z is a bond, is also N;Y is C or, if Z is C, is also N;Z is C or a bond;R a) is hydrogen; orb) is C_{1-C.sub.8-alkyl}, C_{1-C.sub.8-alkoxy}, halogen or trifluoromethyl;R¹ a) is C_{3-C.sub.8-cycloalkyl-C.sub.0-C.sub.4-alkyl} or heterocyclyl-C_{0-C.sub.4-alkyl}, where the heterocyclyl radical is at least partially saturated and the radicals are unsubstituted or substituted by 1-4 C_{1-C.sub.8-alkoxy}, C_{1-C.sub.8-alkoxycarbonyl}, C_{1-C.sub.8-alkyl}, C_{0-C.sub.8-alkylcarbonyl}, C_{1-C.sub.8-alkylsulfonyl}, aryl-C_{0-C.sub.4-alkoxycarbonyl}, aryl, cyano, halogen, unsaturated heterocyclyl, oxo, trifluoromethoxy, trifluoromethyl or tri-C_{1-C.sub.4-alkylsilyl}; orb), if W is N, is also C_{1-C.sub.8-alkyl}, C_{2-C.sub.8-alkenyl} or C_{2-C.sub.8-alkynyl};R² a) is hydrogen; orb) is C_{1-C.sub.8-alkyl}, C_{0-C.sub.8-alkylcarbonyl}, C_{3-C.sub.8-cycloalkyl-C.sub.0-C.sub.4-alkyl} or heterocyclyl-C_{0-C.sub.4-alkyl}, where the heterocyclyl radical is at least partially saturated and the radicals are unsubstituted or substituted by 1-4 C_{1-C.sub.8-alkoxy}, C_{1-C.sub.8-alkoxycarbonyl}, C_{1-C.sub.8-alkyl}, CO--C_{8-alkylcarbonyl}, C_{1-C.sub.8-alkylsulfonyl}, aryl-CO--C_{4-alkoxycarbonyl}, aryl, cyano, halogen, unsaturated heterocyclyl, oxo, trifluoromethoxy, trifluoromethyl or tri-C_{1-C.sub.4-alkylsilyl};n is 0-2;and its salt or compound in which one or more atoms are replaced by their stable, nonradioactive isotopes,where, if W, X, Y and Z are C, R¹ is not an C_{1-C.sub.8-alkyl} substituted piperazinyl radical and where aryl stands for an aromatic hydrocarbon radical which comprises 5-14 carbon atoms and where heterocyclyl stands for a saturated, partially saturated or unsaturated, 4-8-membered, monocyclic ring system, for a saturated, partially saturated or unsaturated, 7-12-membered bicyclic ring system and also for a saturated, partially saturated or unsaturated, 7-12-membered tricyclic ring system, in each case comprising an N, O or S atom in at least one ring, it also being possible for an additional N, O or S atom to be present in one ring.

16. A method for the prevention, for delaying the progression or for the treatment of pathological states which are caused or partly caused by excessive cortisol release in a patient, which comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula (I) to a patient in need thereof, ##STR00008## W is C or, if Z is a bond and X is C, is also N;X is C or, if Z is a bond, is also N;Y is C or, if Z is C, is also N;Z is C or a bond;R a) is hydrogen; orb) is C_{1-C.sub.8-alkyl}, C_{1-C.sub.8-alkoxy}, halogen or trifluoromethyl;R¹ a) is C_{3-C.sub.8-cycloalkyl-CO--C.sub.4-alkyl} or heterocyclyl-CO--C_4-alkyl, where the heterocyclyl radical is at least partially saturated and the radicals are unsubstituted or substituted by 1-4 C_{1-C.sub.8-alkoxy}, C_{1-C.sub.8-alkoxycarbonyl}, C_{1-C.sub.8-alkyl}, C_{0-C.sub.8-alkylcarbonyl}, C_{1-C.sub.8-alkylsulfonyl}, aryl-CO--C_{4-alkoxycarbonyl}, aryl, cyano, halogen, unsaturated heterocyclyl, oxo, trifluoromethoxy, trifluoromethyl or tri-C_{1-C.sub.4-alkylsilyl}; orb), if W is N, is also C_{1-C.sub.8-alkyl}, C_{2-C.sub.8-alkenyl} or C_{2-C.sub.8-alkynyl};R² a) is hydrogen; orb) is C_{1-C.sub.8-alkyl}, CO--C_{8-alkylcarbonyl}, C_{3-C.sub.8-cycloalkyl-CO--C.sub.4-alkyl} or heterocyclyl-C_{0-C.sub.4-alkyl}, where the heterocyclyl radical is at least partially saturated and the radicals are unsubstituted or substituted by 1-4 C_{1-C.sub.8-alkoxy}, C_{1-C.sub.8-alkoxycarbonyl}, C_{1-C.sub.8-alkyl}, C_{0-C.sub.8-alkylcarbonyl}, C_{1-C.sub.8-alkylsulfonyl}, aryl-C_{0-C.sub.4-alkoxycarbonyl}, aryl, cyano, halogen, unsaturated heterocyclyl, oxo, trifluoromethoxy, trifluoromethyl or tri-C_{1-C.sub.4-alkylsilyl};n is 0-2;and its salt or compound in which one or more atoms are replaced by their stable, nonradioactive isotopes,where, if W, X, Y and Z are C, R¹ is not an C_{1-C.sub.8-alkyl} substituted piperazinyl radical and where aryl stands for an aromatic hydrocarbon radical which comprises 5-14 carbon atoms and where heterocyclyl stands for a saturated, partially saturated or unsaturated, 4-8-membered, monocyclic ring system, for a saturated, partially saturated or unsaturated, 7-12-membered bicyclic ring system and also for a saturated, partially saturated or unsaturated, 7-12-membered tricyclic ring system, in each case comprising an N, O or S atom in at least one ring, it also being possible for an additional N, O or S atom to be present in one ring.

17. A pharmaceutical combination in the form of a product or of a kit comprising individual components consisting a) of a compound of formula (I), and b) at least one pharmaceutical form whose active ingredient has a blood pressure-lowering, an inotropic, a metabolic or a lipid-lowering effect, ##STR00009## W is C or, if Z is a bond and X is C, is also N;X is C or, if Z is a bond, is also N;Y is C or, if Z is C, is also N;Z is C or a bond;R a) is hydrogen; orb) is C_{1-C.sub.8-alkyl}, C_{1-C.sub.8-alkoxy}, halogen or trifluoromethyl;R¹ a) is C_{3-C.sub.8-cycloalkyl-CO--C.sub.4-alkyl} or heterocyclyl-CO--C_4-alkyl, where the heterocyclyl radical is at least partially saturated and the radicals are unsubstituted or substituted by 1-4 C_{1-C.sub.8-alkoxy}, C_{1-C.sub.8-alkoxycarbonyl}, C_{1-C.sub.8-alkyl}, CO--C_{8-alkylcarbonyl}, C_{1-C.sub.8-alkylsulfonyl}, aryl-CO--C_{4-alkoxycarbonyl}, aryl, cyano, halogen, unsaturated heterocyclyl, oxo, trifluoromethoxy, trifluoromethyl or tri-C_{1-C.sub.4-alkylsilyl}; orb), if W is N, is also C_{1-C.sub.8-alkyl}, C_{2-C.sub.8-alkenyl} or C_{2-C.sub.8-alkynyl};R² a) is hydrogen; orb) is C_{1-C.sub.8-alkyl}, C_{0-C.sub.8-alkylcarbonyl}, C_{3-C.sub.8-cycloalkyl-C.sub.0-C.sub.4-alkyl} or heterocyclyl-C_{0-C.sub.4-alkyl}, where the heterocyclyl radical is at least partially saturated and the radicals are unsubstituted or substituted by 1-4 C_{1-C.sub.8-alkoxy}, C_{1-C.sub.8-alkoxycarbonyl}, C_{1-C.sub.8-alkyl}, C_{0-C.sub.8-alkylcarbonyl}, C_{1-C.sub.8-alkylsulfonyl}, aryl-C_{0-C.sub.4-alkoxycarbonyl}, aryl, cyano, halogen, unsaturated heterocyclyl, oxo, trifluoromethoxy, trifluoromethyl or tri-C_{1-C.sub.4-alkylsilyl};n is 0-2;and its salt or compound in which one or more atoms are replaced by their stable, nonradioactive isotopes,where, if W, X, Y and Z are C, R¹ is not an C_{1-C.sub.8-alkyl} substituted piperazinyl radical and where aryl stands for an aromatic hydrocarbon radical which comprises 5-14 carbon atoms and where heterocyclyl stands for a saturated, partially saturated or unsaturated, 4-8-membered, monocyclic ring system, for a saturated, partially saturated or unsaturated, 7-12-membered bicyclic ring system and also for a saturated, partially saturated or unsaturated, 7-12-membered tricyclic ring system, in each case comprising an N, O or S atom in at least one ring, it also being possible for an additional N, O or S atom to be present in one ring.

18. A method for the prevention, for delaying the progression or for the treatment of pathological states which are caused or partly caused by hyperaldosteronism in a patient, which comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula (Ia), (Ib), (Ic) or (Id) to a patient in need thereof, ##STR00010## where the meanings of the substituents R, R¹ and R² are as indicated for compounds of the formula (I) according to claim 15.

19. A method for the prevention, for delaying the progression or for the treatment of pathological states which are caused or partly caused by excessive cortisol release in a patient, which comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula (Ia), (Ib), (Ic) or (Id) to a patient in need thereof, ##STR00011## where the meanings of the substituents R, R¹ and R² are as indicated for compounds of the formula (I) according to claim 16.

20. A pharmaceutical combination in the form of a product or of a kit comprising individual components consisting a) of a compound of formula (Ia), (Ib), (Ic) or (Id), and b) at least one pharmaceutical form whose active ingredient has a blood pressure-lowering, an inotropic, a metabolic or a lipid-lowering effect, ##STR00012## where the meanings of the substituents R, R¹ and R² are as indicated for compounds of the formula (I) according to claim 17.