Related Experiment Videos
Nonmodulating trait may precede the development of hypertension
M S Gordon1, M B Gordon, N K Hollenberg
1Endocrine-Hypertension Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115-5817.
American Journal of Hypertension
|September 1, 1994
Summary
The nonmodulating trait, linked to abnormal angiotensin II control, may be a heritable cause of hypertension. This study shows a patient with this trait developed hypertension, suggesting it
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Endocrinology
- Hypertension Research
Background:
- The nonmodulating trait is implicated in 25-35% of hypertension cases.
- It involves abnormal angiotensin II (AII)-mediated control of aldosterone and renal blood flow (RBF).
- Debate exists whether nonmodulation is inherited or an acquired epiphenomenon.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the nature of the nonmodulating trait.
- To determine if nonmodulation precedes hypertension development.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of a single patient (RR) over 5 years.
- Six study occasions: two normotensive, four hypertensive.
- Assessed plasma aldosterone and RBF responses to AII under varying salt diets.
Main Results:
- Patient RR exhibited consistently low aldosterone response to AII while normotensive and hypertensive.
- Patient RR showed depressed RBF response to AII and RBF increment changes with salt intake.
- Nonmodulation was evident by multiple criteria in both normotensive and hypertensive states.
Conclusions:
- The nonmodulating trait may be a heritable defect leading to hypertension.
- Nonmodulation is not solely an epiphenomenon of the hypertensive state.
- This case supports a genetic predisposition to hypertension via nonmodulation.