title: Hypotensive mechanism of potassium supplementation in salt-loaded patients with essential hypertension.
abstract: To investigate the hypotensive mechanism of potassium supplementation, blood pressure responses and hormonal changes were measured during KCl supplementation in salt-loaded patients with essential hypertension. Ten patients with essential hypertension were placed on low sodium intake, high sodium intake, and high sodium intake with KCl supplementation. Blood pressure increased during NaCl loading and decreased during KCl supplementation. The levels of urinary sodium and fractional sodium excretion increased after KCl supplementation. Reduction in blood pressure after KCl supplementation was correlated with an increase in blood pressure after NaCl supplementation, i.e., potassium sensitivity and sodium sensitivity were correlated. Plasma PGE2 and norepinephrine increased after KCl loading. Increases in plasma PGE2 were correlated with a reduction of blood pressure by KCl. These results indicate that natriuresis and hypotensive action of KCl are associated with increased PGE2 production, and the sympathetic nerve activity suggests a compensatory increase for the decrease in blood pressure.
mesh_terms: D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004039:Diet, Sodium-Restricted; D015232:Dinoprostone; D005260:Female; D006728:Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007022:Hypotension / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011458:Prostaglandins E / Q000097:blood; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; D011458:Prostaglandins E; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D012964:Sodium; D015232:Dinoprostone; D011188:Potassium; D009638:Norepinephrine