Abstract
IN the treatment of hypertension, the effectiveness of sodium depletion by either dietary restriction or natriuretic agents is now fully documented. It is sufficient to say that the response to such treatment led to the hypothesis that hypertensives might suffer from an abnormality in sodium metabolism. The first measurements of the sodium content of individuals with hypertension were done in 1951 by the technique of isotopic dilution using sodium-241. With the exception of one report these observations have been confirmed repeatedly by ourselves and by others: an increase in sodium was not evident. In the single discordant report2, some cases of severe hypertension were noted to have an increase in exchangeable sodium, but this was interpreted as being secondary rather than primary to the disease, because it was observed almost exclusively in individuals with advanced hypertension.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Dole, V. P., Dahl, L. K., Cotzias, G. C., Dziewiatkowski, D. D., and Harris, C., J. Clin. Invest., 30, 584 (1951).
Ross, E. J., Clin. Sci., 15, 81 (1956).
Meneely, G. R., Tucker, R. G., Darby, W. J., and Auerbach, S. D., J. Exp. Med., 98, 71 (1953).
Dahl, L. K., in Essential Hypertension, An International Symposium, edit. by Cottier, P., and Bock, K. D., 53 (Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg, 1960).
Dahl, L. K., Nature, 181, 989 (1958).
Smilay, M. D., Dahl, L. K., Spraragen, S. C., and Silver, L., J. Lab. Clin. Med. (in the press).
Statistical Bulletin, Metropolitan Life Ins. Co., 40, 1 (1959).
Cohn, S. H., Love, R. A., and Gusmano, E. A., Science, 133, 1362 (1961).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
DAHL, L., SMILAY, M., SILVER, L. et al. Prolonged Biological Half-Life of Sodium-22 in Patients with Essential Hypertension. Nature 192, 267–268 (1961). https://doi.org/10.1038/192267a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/192267a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.