Increased circulating levels of an endogenous digoxin-like factor in hypertensive monkeys.

An endogenous, immunoreactive digoxin-like factor (endoxin) was measured in the plasma of nonhuman primates with hypertension. Both normotensive and hypertensive rhesus monkeys had levels of endoxin that significantly correlated with their systolic or diastolic blood pressure. Vervet monkeys with experimentally produced chronic Goldblatt hypertension had significantly elevated endoxin, but not plasma renin. These data suggest that increased plasma endoxin may be a contributing factor in the development of hypertension.