Abstract
Erythrocyte intracellular sodium concentration (IcNa, mmol/1) Na22 efflux rate constant (NaERC) and H3 ouabain binding to receptor sites on the Na-K pump (Bmax, nmol/l cells) were measured in normal children (n=15), children with primary hypertension (n=11) and children with secondary hypertension (n=18). The development of minaturised methods allows all the measurements to be undertaken using only 6 ml of blood, instead of the 30-50 ml reported previously. In children with primary hypertension IcNa was found to be significantly higher (8.2 vs 6.6+6.7) and NaERC (0.5071 vs 0.6983+0.6197) and Bmax (9.1 vs 11.7+11.0) significantly lower than in normal children or in children with secondary hypertension. This suggests that investigation of erythrocyte sodium transport by measuring IcNa, NaERC and Bmax may aid in positively identifying children with primary as opposed to secondary hypertension. In addition these measurements may identify normotensive children at risk of developing hypertension in adult life. Further work is needed to decide whether these findings are a cause or consequence of hypertension or just a marker.
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Uchiyama, M., Daman Willems, C., Shah, V. et al. ESSENTIAL HYPERTENSION IN CHILDHOOD: A DISORDER OF ERYTHROCYTE SODIUM TRANSPORT?. Pediatr Res 19, 1114 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198510000-00257
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198510000-00257