Enhanced calcium-sensitivity of erythrocytes in hypertension. Calcium-induced changes of erythrocyte osmotic fragility in essential hypertension.

To investigate the Ca-sensitivity of the erythrocyte membrane in hypertension, the changes of the osmotic fragility of erythrocytes by Ca-loading and the effects of Ca-channel blockers or calmodulin-antagonist were observed in patients with essential hypertension. Erythrocytes were obtained from untreated patients with essential hypertension and age-matched normotensive subjects. Treatment of erythrocytes with Ca-ionophore A23187 and Ca in bathing medium caused the reduction of the osmotic fragility of erythrocytes dose-dependently on Ca-concentration. The degree in alteration of the osmotic fragility of erythrocytes was greater in essential hypertension than that in normotensive controls. In addition, Ca-induced changes of erythrocyte osmotic fragility was inversely correlated with the plasma renin activity in essential hypertension. In the presence of Ca-antagonists (verapamil, diltiazem) or calmodulin-antagonist (trifluoperazine), the reduction of the osmotic fragility of erythrocytes by Ca-loading was inhibited, and the differences of the osmotic fragility of erythrocytes between the hypertensives and the normotensive controls were abolished by these drugs. These results suggest that the greater changes of the osmotic fragility of the erythrocytes by Ca-loading in essential hypertension might be due to the abnormality of Ca-handling of the cell membranes causing an increase in the intracellular Ca concentration, contributing at least partially to the pathogenesis of hypertension.