This study was performed in order to investigate the changes of Na⁺ transport system in the red blood cells of patients with essential hypertension.

Na⁺-Li⁺ countertransport and Na⁺-K⁺ pump activity were measured in 30 cases of essential hypertension and 20 healthy normal controls. And these measurements were analyzed in terms of some important clinical parameters in the patients, i.e., body mass index(BMI), status of hypertension and plasma lipids.

Na⁺ and K⁺ contents of red cells in hypertensive patients were 16.9±1.4 and 77.8±2.1mmol/L cells, respectively, and no significant difference was found compared with respective value of normal control(14.2±0.9 and 82.2±2.8mmol/L cells).

Na⁺-Li⁺ countertransport in the patients group was significantly ancreased compared with control group(62.5±4.5 and 46.8±3.0umol/L cells.hr), and Na⁺-K⁺ pump activity was also showed a significant depression(8.72±0.80 and 12.79±0.52umol Pi/mg.hr).

In the analysis regarding the relationship between Na⁺ transport system and some important clinical parameters of the patients with essential hypertension, Na⁺-Li⁺ countertransport was related to BMI, and the level of triglyceride. On the other hand, Na⁺-K⁺ pump activity was related to the WHO stage and the levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride. But level of blood pressure did not show a significant correlation with either are of the two Na⁺ transport system.

These resluts suggest that Na⁺-Li⁺ countertransport and Na⁺-K⁺ pump activity in patients with essential hypertension were significantly altered compared with heathy normal controls, and these Na⁺ transport system were also influenced by BMI, WHO stage, and the levels of cholesterol and triglyceride. And the individual variation in Na⁺ transport system were also suggested by the findings being overlapped between hypertensive patients and controls.