Effect of nifedipine on cellular electrolytes in fourteen patients with untreated primary hypertension.

Abstract

The effect of nifedipine on cellular electrolytes was studied in 14 patients (10 males, 4 females, age 39-62 years) with untreated primary hypertension. Before therapy and after one and three months of treatment, sodium and potassium were analyzed in erythrocytes (ENa, EK). Before and after treatment, potassium and calcium (MK, MCa) were determined in biopsy specimens of skeletal muscle, by use of energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry analysis. Blood pressure decreased from 186 +/- 23.5/108 +/- 8.4 to 156.1 +/- 13.8 (p less than 0.001)/88.6 +/- 7.5 (p less than 0.001) and remained constant till the three-month control, 151.8 +/- 8.0 (p less than 0.001)/88.9 +/- 6.6 mmHg (p less than 0.001). ENa was significantly higher than in normotensive controls (p less than 0.001) and decreased from 11.9 +/- 2.7 to 10.1 +/- 2.0 mmol/l (p less than 0.05). There was no statistical (pairs of differences) change in EK, MK or MCa when the whole patient series was considered. No relation was seen between family history of hypertension and electrolyte changes. For the 10 male patients a decrease was found in MCa from 1.30 +/- 0.25 to 1.08 +/- 0.17 mmol/l (p less than 0.05). No correlation could be shown between any of the parameters studied, neither in the whole group nor in the males separately.