Increased Intralymphocytic Sodium Content in Essential Hypertension: An Index of Impaired Na+ Cellular Metabolism

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Abstract
The Na concentration in lymphocytes was measured in a group of 66 normotensive subjects (40 without familial hypertension and 26 with familial hypertension), in a group of 81 patients with essential hypertension and in a group of 14 patients with secondary hypertension. The mean value in normotensive subjects with no history of familial hypertension was 21.9 .+-. 3.1 mmol/kg wet wt, which was significantly lower (P < 0.005) than that of normotensive subjects with familial hypertension (mean value 27.9 .+-. 4.2 mmol/kg). Lymphocyte Na concentration was significantly higher in patients with essential hypertension (33.2 .+-. 3.3 mmol/kg; P < 0.001) than in the subjects with normal blood pressure without familial hypertension. In the patients with essential hypertension there was a significant correlation between lymphocyte Na concentration and systolic (P < 0.005), diastolic (P < 0.001) and mean (P < 0.001) blood pressure. In the normotensive subjects there was no correlation between the lymphocyte Na concentration and the blood pressure. The patients with secondary forms of hypertension had normal lymphocyte Na concentration, except in the case of Conn''s disease. Incubation with ouabain increased lymphocyte Na concentration in the normotensive subjects and patients with essential hypertension; the final Na concentration was similar in the 2 groups. When lymphocytes from normotensive subjects without familial hypertension were incubated in plasma of patients with essential hypertension there was an increase in their Na content.