[Erythrocyte sodium-lithium countertransporter level as a risk factor of hypertension (prospective study data)]

A 3-year prospective study was undertaken to evaluate the relation of red blood cell Na+/Li+ countertransport rates to the incidence of arterial hypertension. A total of 227 subjects (males and females aged 24-54 years)--a 20% representative sample of organized population--was followed up. The annual incidence of arterial hypertension was 4.3 among males and 2.7 among females. The baseline blood pressures and obesity in males and rates of Na+/Li+ countertransport in females were demonstrated to be factors associated with the incidence of arterial hypertension. The rate of red blood cell Na+/Li+ countertransport can be regarded as an independent biological risk factor for arterial hypertension.