A Na+,K+ co-transport assay for essential hypertension

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Abstract
In erythrocytes from essential hypertensive patients and some of their normotensive offspring, the Na+,K+ co-transport system is unable to transport Na+ in an uphill direction against the electrochemical Na+ gradient. Recent studies of the kinetic properties of this system permitted a further characterization of the abnormal co-transport in hypertension. Essential hypertensive patients (34) were characterized by a 2- to 3-fold decrease in the maximal rate of the outward Na+ K+ co-transport and a partial uncoupling of this system compared with 22 normotensive controls. A normal co-transport was found in 5 secondary hypertensives with no family history of hypertension; the abnormal co-transport is not the consequence of high blood pressure per se. An abnormal co-transport was found in .apprx. 50% of 19 young normotensives born of 1 hypertensive parent, suggesting genetic transmission. The use of a specific Na+,K+ co-transport assay is proposed for the differential diagnosis between essential and secondary hypertension and for the detection of those normotensives born of hypertensive parents with a potential risk to develop high blood pressure.

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