[Ionic homeostasis and erythrocyte deformability in patients with primary arterial hypertension]

Erythrocyte Na, K-ATPase was examined for its activity and relation to the concentration of the complexon EDTA in 39 patients with arterial hypertension (AH), 12 subjects with borderline hypertension, and 18 normotensives. The ionic composition and deformability of erythrocytes were also studied. As compared to normotensives, the patients with Stage I AH displayed a significantly lower activity of erythrocyte Na, K-ATPase, which may suggest that there is an enzyme inhibitor in the blood of the patients. According to the enzyme activity, the patients with Stage II AH were divided into two subgroups: 1) those with a lower activity and 2) those with a higher activity than healthy subjects. The patients with a Stage II AH who showed a lower activity of Na, K-ATPase exhibited a more elevated erythrocyte sodium level, whereas those who had a high activity of the enzyme displayed a decreased erythrocyte deformability. In addition, a positive correlation between erythrocyte sodium concentrations and Na, K-ATPase activity, as well as erythrocyte deformability was found in normotensives, whereas a negative correlation was established in AH patients.