Correlation among monovalent cations [Na[+], K[+]] and serum rennin in essential hypertensive subjects

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the changes in serum level of Monovalent cations [Na[+] and K[+]] in hypertensive patients in addition to observe correlation of cations with serum Renin in such patients. Study was conducted at the Biochemistry Department of Basic Medical Sciences Institute [BMSI], Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi under the supervision of Khemomal A. Karira since June 2006 July 2007. A total of seventy-five subjects were included, out of which forty patients were suffering from essential hypertension and thirty-five were normal healthy subjects. The serum level of monovalent cations was measured by flame photometry, rennin by RIA, glucose, urea and creatinine by chemical methods. The results of our study show that there is definite cat ions derangement in essential hypertension; serum sodium is significantly high [p<0.001] while potassium is significantly low [p<0.001] in hypertensives. Similarly these cations showed significant correlation with systolic and diastolic blood pressure; sodium had significant positive correlation [r-value0.463 and 0.426] while potassium had significant negative correlation [r-value-0.781 and - 0.766]. The glucose, urea and creatinine show non-significant results when compared to normotensives. In addition rennin has positive correlation [r value 0.485 and 0.467] with systolic and diastolic blood pressure respectively. Our findings suggest that cat ions and rennin should be measured in hypertensives. Present study was performed on a small sample size and provides a baseline data of cations and rennin in hypertensive subjects, so we recommend that same type of study should be carried out on large sample size to assess the importance of above parameters of hypertensives