title: Sodium-potassium-dependent ATPase activity in erythrocyte ghosts of patients with primary and secondary hypertension.
abstract: 1. We have investigated the function of the Na+-K+ pump in the erythrocytes of patients with various types of hypertension by measuring the activity of ouabain-sensitive Na+-K+-dependent ATPase and ouabain-insensitive ATPase in the erythrocyte ghosts of these patients. 2. Mean Na+-K+-ATPase activity was increased threefold in six patients with Cushing's syndrome and hypertension (0.985 +/- SD 0.288 mumol of phosphate h-1 mg-1) compared with that in 49 control subjects (0.334 +/- 0.147 mumol of phosphate h-1 mg-1) (P < 0.0025), but not in four patients with primary aldosteronism (0.278 +/- 0.108 mumol of phosphate h-1 mg-1). 3. Na+-K+-ATPase activity slightly exceeded the control range in 57 patients with primary hypertension (0.410 +/- 0.245 mumol of phosphate h-1 mg-1; P < 0.025) and in 12 patients with renal hypertension (0.475 +/- 0.250 mumol of phosphate h-1 mg-1) (P < 0.025). 4. There was no difference in ouabain-insensitive ATPase between the controls and the different types of hypertension. 5. The data support the hypothesis of an activation of the Na+ pump in patients with glucocorticoid excess. This helps to explain previous observations of a redistribution of sodium and water to the extracellular compartment in experimental glucocorticoid-induced hypertension.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000201:enzymology; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000201:enzymology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology; D006929:Hyperaldosteronism / Q000201:enzymology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000450:Aldosterone; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase; D006854:Hydrocortisone