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[Behavior of ionized calcium in hypertensive and normotensive patients]
D Ricciardelli1, L Piccini, M Forgeschi
1Istituto di Clinica Medica Generale e Terapia Medica III, U.S.L. 10/D, Firenze.
Insights
Essential hypertension patients showed significantly lower serum ionized calcium levels compared to normotensive individuals. This finding suggests a potential role for calcium in the development of high blood pressure.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Clinical Biochemistry
Abstract:
Serum concentrations of ionized calcium have been measured in a group of 38 patients with essential hypertension (26 women and 12 men with mean age 61 +/- 12 years) and in a group of 19 normotensives (14 women and 5 men with mean age 70 +/- 12 years). Serum Ca++ levels were significantly lower in hypertensives than in normotensives (4.16 +/- 0.43 mg/dl and 4.46 +/- 0.38 mg/dl respectively, with p less than 0.05). The lower serum concentrations found in hypertensives may be due ions in arterial smooth muscle cells may cause an increase of vascular tone and peripheral resistances. Our results support, in agreement with other Authors, the possible role of ionized calcium in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension.