Intracellular Na super(+) as a genetic marker of essential hypertension

In 1960 the pathophysiological mechanisms by which Na super(+) is involved in human essential hypertension were first elucidated by the finding that intracellular Na super(+) is elevated in red blood cells of essential hypertensives. Furthermore it was found that transmembraneous Na super(+) fluxes in red blood cells of essential hypertensives are changed in parallel with intracellular Na super(+) concentration, reflecting the metabolic disturbances better than the Na super(+) concentration measurements. It can be assumed that elevated intracellular Na super(+) plays a causative role in essential hypertension.