Cation fluxes and (Na+ + K+)-activated ATPase activity in erythrocytes of patients with essential hypertension.

Various claims, partially conflicting, have been made in recent years for abnormalities in cation pumps and fluxes in erythrocytes of patients with essential hypertension. In view of the obvious significance of such abnormalities for diagnostic purposes, and possibly for our understanding of the pathophysiology of essential hypertension, we have investigated these claims. We have determined the following parameters of erythrocytes from essential hypertensives and normotensives: 1. (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity and the Km values for Na+, K+ and ATP; 2. ouabain-sensitive fluxes of Na+ and K+ in Na+-enriched cells after cold treatment and after treatment with p-chloromercuribenzenesulphonate; 3. furosemide-sensitive, ouabain-insensitive cotransport efflux of Na+ + K+. No significant differences were observed, except for a slight decrease in the ouabain-sensitive K+ influx after cold treatment in hypertensives. Hence, we conclude that determination of these parameters in erythrocytes does not seem to be useful for the diagnosis of essential hypertension.