[Na-Li countertransport and the diagnosis of hypertension and combined hypertension and renal artery stenosis].

The rate of Na-Li countertransport was studied in inpatients with essential hypertension (n = 59), chronic diffuse glomerulonephritis (n = 30), chronic pyelonephritis (n = 26), renovascular hypertension (n = 15) and in those with associated renovascular hypertension and essential hypertension (n = 4). Multiple regression analysis has demonstrated that age, body weight and blood plasma lipids do not make any significant contribution to dispersion of the counter transport rate. The mean rate of countertransport in patients with essential hypertension turned out much higher than that in patients with secondary hypertensions. Repeated examinations have shown that in every man, the countertransport rate remains unchanged for 1.5 yr. It is not affected either by hypotensive therapy or surgical treatment. In inpatients with secondary hypertension and low rates of countertransport, high arterial pressure (AP) drops after surgical treatment of the kidneys, renal vessels or adrenals. Surgical treatment of patients with secondary hypertension and high rates of countertransport does not lead to any material decrease of AP. It is assumed that the rate of Na-Li countertransport can be used for diagnosing associated secondary hypertensions and essential hypertension and prediction of AP lowering after surgical treatment.