[Body constitution of patients of different somatotypes with hypertension]

Body constituents (cellular and extracellular mass, fat, extracellular fluid) were examined by means of K-40 whole-body radiometry in male essential hypertension patients with normal body weight and alimentary obesity. Second-stage essential hypertension was associated with a reduction of body cell mass, its relative parameters in particular. This fall was even more pronounced in patients with alimentary obesity. Apparently, increased proportion of fat in relation to body cell mass, which is more active metabolically, alters water-salt balance and, consequently, arterial blood pressure.