Abnormal Leucocyte Sodium Transport in Chinese Patients with Essential Hypertension and their Normotensive Offsprings

Abstract

We studied changes in intracellular electrolytes and the rate constant of ²²Na efflux from isolated leucocytes in Chinese patients with essential hypertension and their normotensive offsprings. The hypertensives had an increase of sodium content and a reduction of the total or ouabain-sentive ²²Na efflux from leucocytes. The normotensives born of hypertensive parents showed lower sodium content, higher potassium content and reduced rate constant of oua-bain-insensitive ²²Na efflux from leucocytes. The results suggest that the inhibition of cell sodium pump activity may be a marker of essential hypertension. Abnormal cell sodium transport observed in normotensives with family history of hypertension may have some etiological linking with the inheritance of hypertension.

Key Words:

• Sodium & Potassium
• leucocyte
• Pump
• Genetic factors