Electrolyte profiles in Nigerian patients with essential hypertension

• Published in: African journal of biotechnology 2008-05, Vol.7 (10), p.1404-1408
• Main Authors: Iyalomhe, GBS, Omogbai, EKL, Ozolua, R I, Dada, F L, Iyalomhe, OOB
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1684-5315; 1684-5315

Information is inadequate on the serum and urine electrolyte profiles in Nigerians with mild to moderate essential hypertension. We, therefore, measured the levels of Na super(+), K super(+) and Cl super(-) in 40 adult Nigerians with untreated uncomplicated mild to moderate hypertension and compared these values with those obtained from age and sex-matched normotensives. Electrolytes were measured using ion-selective electrolyte analyzer. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was 127.20 plus or minus 4.20 mmHg in the hypertensives as compared to 92.27 plus or minus 6.25 mmHg in the normotensives. Both groups of subjects had comparable weight and body mass indices. Results show that in the hypertensives serum, levels of Na super(+) (152.8 plus or minus 2.14 mmol l super(-1)) and Cl super(-) (115.4 plus or minus 2.62 mmol l super(-1)) were significantly higher than in the normotensives (Na super(+): 136.0 plus or minus 3.23; Cl super(-): 102.2 plus or minus 2.52 mmol l super(-1)). Serum K super(+) levels were significantly lower in the hypertensives than in the normotensives (4.01 plus or minus 0.08 vs 4.82 plus or minus 0.03 mmol l super(-1)). The hypertensives excreted more Na super(+) (300.9 plus or minus 41.30 mmol l super(-1)) and Cl super(-) (278.6 plus or minus 4.39 mmol l super(-1)) than the normotensives (Na super(+): 147.10 plus or minus 1.10, Cl super(-): 126.40 plus or minus 1.51 mmol l super(-1)). Urinary K super(+) level in the hypertensives was significantly higher than in the normotensives (73.70 plus or minus 0.73 vs 55.60 plus or minus 0.63 mmol l super(-1)). We conclude that mild to moderately hypertensive Nigerians show significant differences in their levels of serum and urinary Na super(+), K super(+) and Cl super(-) from their normotensive counterparts. The relatively higher serum Na super(+) and Cl super(-) concentrations and the corresponding lower serum K super(+) may indicate their roles in the pathogenesis of hypertension in these patients.