Comparison of outward and inward Na+/K+ cotransport-mediated fluxes in erythrocytes of essential hypertensive patients. Preliminary results.

A hereditary defect in the outward ouabain-resistant, furosemide-sensitive (ORFS) Na+/K+ cotransport has recently been reported by Garay and Meyer in erythrocytes of essential hypertensive patients and some of their normotensive offsprings. Since Na+/K+ cotransport in erythrocytes operates bidirectionally, the same defect might be detectable in the ORFS component of K+ influx rate. To test this hypothesis outward and inward Na+/K+ cotransport measurements were performed in erythrocytes of hypertensives and normotensive controls. Our preliminary results confirm the observation of a reduced outward cotransport in essential hypertension and also suggest that inward cotransport may be reduced in essential hypertension.