Salt-Sensitivity and Immunity Cell Activation
Salt-sensitive hypertension affects nearly 50% of the hypertensive and 25% of the normotensive population, and strong evidence indicates that reducing salt intake decreases blood pressure and cardiovascular events. The precise mechanisms of how dietary salt contributes to blood pressure elevation, renal injury, and cardiovascular disease remains unclear. Our data indicated that monocytes exhibit salt sensitivity, and the investigators hypothesize that of salt sensitivity of these and similar immune cells correlate with the hypertensive response to salt intake. Currently, the research tools for diagnosing salt-sensitivity are costly, time consuming and laborious. In this study the investigators will identify monocyte salt-sensitivity as a marker of salt-sensitive hypertension.
• We will perform a pilot analysis in 20 hypertensive subjects controlled for gender (50% men, 50% women), age (18-60 years),
• New or pre-existing diagnosis of essential hypertension defined as systolic blood pressure \>140 mmHg or \>90 mmHg diastolic or taking antihypertensive medications regardless of current blood pressure.
• BMI (18.5-24.9).
• Only subjects who give informed consent will be studied.