Evaluation of erythrocyte filtrability and its relation to globular membrane (Na+, K+)--dependent ATPase in hypertensive patients

The values of erythrocyte filtration index and erythrocyte membrane (Na+, K+) – dependent ATPase activity were evaluated in 21 hypertensive patients (12 men and 9 women) aged 46.3 ± 9.7 years. The patients suffered from essential hypertension and the blood pressure values recorded were 171.9 ± 21.3 mmHg systolic and 110.6 ± 12.2 mmHg diastolic. The activity of erythrocyte membrane Na+, K+ ATPase is significantly lower (p < 0.001) among the patients (0.074 ± 0.029 μmoles Pi/mg prot/h) than in the healthy controls (0.160 ± 0.045 μmoles Pi/mg prot/h). The rate of erythrocyte filtrability was also significantly lower (p < 0.001) in respect to the controls (12.84 ± 2.40 μl. seg.-1 and (15.80 ± 1.75, respectively). However, no correlation was found between the two parameters evaluated.This study was supported by a grant from INIC (MbL2)