Evaluation of Erythrocyte Sodium-22 Influx as a Laboratory Test for the Diagnosis of Essential Hypertension

摘要

A simple new procedure to measure erythrocyte uptake of sodium-22 was evaluated as a laboratory test for the diagnosis of essential hypertension. Erythrocytes from 25 normotensive controls, 18 normotensive offspring of essential hypertensives, 25 patients with essential hypertension and 25 patients with hypertension secondary to renal disease, were incubated in an isotonic buffer containing sodium-22. Intracellular sodium and potassium were also measured to determine the influence of these cations on net sodium influx. Mean sodium-22 influx was significantly higher in patients with essential hypertension (0.278 + or - 0.079mmol/liter cells/hour) than normotensive controls (0.216 + or - 0.037) or secondary hypertensives (0.220 + or - 0.047) (p < 0.01). Erythrocyte sodium and potassium concentration in patients with essential hypertension is not significantly different from controls. Sodium influx does not appear to be affected by the intracellular concentration of Na+ or K+. Overlap occurred in all four groups. This procedure may provide important diagnostic and prognostic information for the treatment of patients with essential hypertension.