The relationship of erythrocyte sodium-lithium countertransport to blood pressure and metabolic abnormalities in a sample of untreated middle-aged male workers.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between erythrocyte sodium-lithium countertransport and blood pressure in a randomly selected sample of untreated male workers and to evaluate the influence of a set of metabolic abnormalities commonly associated with hypertension on this relationship.


METHODS
A cross-sectional investigation of a randomly selected sample of untreated male workers (n = 216, age range 21-59 years) at the Olivetti factory in Pozzuoli, Naples.


METHODS
Standardized measurements of anthropometric and metabolic parameters, blood pressure and Na(+)-Li+ countertransport were performed.


RESULTS
In a simple linear correlation analysis Na(+)-Li+ countertransport was directly related to plasma triglycerides and uric acid concentrations, body mass index (BMI) and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Significantly higher values of Na(+)-Li+ countertransport were observed in the two upper quintiles of the serum triglycerides and uric acid distributions, and of the BMI distribution. Na(+)-Li+ countertransport accounted for approximately 2% of the blood pressure variation in this study population, but its contribution to the effect of metabolic covariates was not statistically significant. Hypertensive individuals with one or more metabolic abnormality had a significantly higher mean level of Na(+)-Li+ countertransport than those hypertensives who were free of such alterations.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the present study suggest that a high level of Na(+)-Li+ countertransport is more common in those hypertensive individuals who have concomitant metabolic abnormalities than in hypertensives who are free of such abnormalities.
Strazzullo
P
P
Institute of Internal Medicine and Metabolic Diseases, Second Medical School, University of Naples, Italy.
Cappuccio
F P
FP
Trevisan
M
M
Siani
A
A
Barba
G
G
Ragone
E
E
Pagano
E
E
Mancini
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D017920:Antiporters / Q000097:blood*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood*
D017920:Antiporters; D014280:Triglycerides; C045885:sodium-lithium countertransporter; D014527:Uric Acid