Is there a cellular abnormality in hypertension?
There are probably weak associations between altered blood cell ion handling and hypertension. This has been most consistently demonstrated for sodium-lithium countertransport and erythrocyte binding of calcium. These associations can be demonstrated when allowance is made for such confounding factors as age, weight, sex, and ethnic background. It is proposed that there is a disturbance in the physicochemical properties of the cell membrane in essential hypertension in humans and in the spontaneously hypertensive rat. Although alterations in smooth muscle growth or contractility can be demonstrated in some situations, there is no evidence that this is of primary pathogenetic importance. It is accordingly suggested that blood cell ion transport disturbances are serving as markers of a primary disorder in autonomic rather than vascular smooth muscle function.
Swales
J D
JD
Department of Medicine, University of Leicester, England.
D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000473:pathology*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000473:pathology*