Thromboxane B2 in borderline and essential hypertensive patients.

Thromboxane B2 (TxB2) was measured in the venous and arterial plasma and in the urine of 15 borderline and 15 sustained essential hypertensive patients, and in the plasma and urine of 12 control normotensive age-matched subjects. Plasma and urine thromboxane B2 were significantly higher in both the borderline and sustained hypertensives than in the control normotensives. There was a significant positive correlation between urinary (i.e. renal)TxB2 excretion and the glomerular filtration rate, and between urinary TxB2 excretion and sodium excretion in the hypertensive but not in the normotensive subjects. Thromboxane A2 participates in pressure natriuresis.