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Hypertension

Lymph vessels, Na+ and the teleological science of hypertension

A recent study reports that adenosine A2A receptor-mediated lymphangiogenesis increases lymphatic clearance of excess Na+ from the skin and reduces blood pressure, whereas impairment of this process leads to salt-sensitive hypertension. These findings raise intriguing physiological questions regarding the relationships among sodium, water and blood pressure.

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Fig. 1: The relationships among body Na+, water and blood pressure.

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Correspondence to Jens M. Titze.

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Titze, J.M. Lymph vessels, Na+ and the teleological science of hypertension. Nat Rev Nephrol 19, 692–693 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41581-023-00770-5

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