Lack of Evidence for Na/K ATPase Inhibition as a Cause of Low Renin Human Hypertension

A circulating Na/K ATPase(sodium pump) inhibiting factor might cause hypertension in man. Furthermore, more recent evidence suggests that suppressed peripheral PRA values might be a marker for the presence of that factor in human hypertension(for a review see 1). We designed this study to further assess that possibility. Our specific aims were to evaluate whether biochemical or functional indices of Na/K ATPase inhibition are present in low renin human hypertension, either in primary aldosteronism (PA)or in the so called low renin essential hypertension(LREH). As controls, normal renin essential hypertensives(NREH) were taken.