Measurement by bioluminescence technique of erythrocyte membrane Na+,K+-ATPase activity in hypertensive patients

Erythrocyte membrane Na+,K+-ATPase activity was measured using a bioluminescence technique in 28 hypertensive patients (24 with essential hypertension, 2 with renovascular hypertension and 2 with hypertension secondary to primary hyperaldosteronism) and in 28 normotensive control subjects matched for age and sex. Erythrocyte Na+,K+-ATPase activity was significantly reduced in the patients with essential hypertension (130.9 +/- 11.4 vs. 186.6 +/- 19.5 nmol ATP/mg prot per h; mean values +/- SEM; p less than 0.05) and in the patients with secondary hypertension. A significant negative correlation was found between erythrocyte Na+,K+-ATPase and systolic blood pressure (r = -0.603; p less than 0.01), but not between Na+,K+-ATPase and plasma renin activity or plasma aldosterone levels. These data confirm the findings of a number of previous studies reporting reduced activity of erythrocyte Na+,K+-ATPase possibly related to the presence of a circulatory inhibitor of sodium pump. The method, based on ATP assay by bioluminescence, presents a high degree of specificity as well as simple, rapid execution.