Na⁺,K⁺,Cl⁻ Cotransport System in Primary Hypertension: Studies in Red Cells and in the Choroid Plexus of Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Abstract

Apart from high blood pressure, there is no other clinical sign or laboratory abnormality common to all essential hypertensive patients. Thus, in only half of all hypertensive subjects does blood pressure rise after excess sodium intake. Some hypertensives are obese, others are hyperreactive to stress; some hypertensives have increased plasma catecholamines, others have increased plasma renin activity, or even a decreased urinary excretion of prostacyclin metabolites. We can be certain that this heterogeneity of essential hypertension is involved in the variability of therapeutic response to weight reduction, low-salt diet, or antihypertensive drugs.