Electrolyte and Water Excretion in Arterial Hypertension

The increased capacity of hypertensive subjects to excrete sodium is frequently reduced by effective antihypertensive drug treatment. This reduction in sodium excretion is not necessarily associated with changes in renal hemodynamic function or resting sodium excretion. It appears to result from an alteration in renal tubular activity. The findings suggest that the arterial pressure per se may operate to control sodium excretion. They also are consistent with the hypothesis that certain disturbances in sodium excretion in arterial hypertension may be the result and not necessarily the cause of an elevated blood pressure.