Relationship between intralymphocytic sodium content and pressor response to mental arithmetic and static exercise in...

The relationship between intralymphocytic sodium content (ILSC) and blood pressure (BP) was assessed in a group of 18 untreated patients with essential hypertension. BP was recorded with an automatic device at rest and during mental arithmetic and handgrip. When BP was recorded in the presence of the physician patients with very high ILSC values showed significantly higher values than patients with moderately high ILSC values. This difference was no longer detectable when BP was recorded in a quiet room the patients being alone. ILSC and diastolic BP at rest were significantly related (r=0.80) only when the physician was present. The percent increase in diastolic BP induced by stimulation tests was significantly related to ILSC values (r=0.91). These data suggest that pressor response to adrenergic stimulation in patients with essential hypertension is related to intracellular sodium content.