EFFECT OF LONG-TERM BLOOD-PRESSURE CONTROL ON SALT SENSITIVITY

The objective of this study was to reevaluate salt sensitivity (SENS) after a period of antihypertensive treatment (AT). SENS was measured i n ten patients, before and after 18 +/- 6 months on AT. The average fo r all mean blood pressures (MBP) measured during AT was used as an ind ex of blood pressure (BP) control. After at least eight weeks on place bo only, all patients were submitted to an ad libitum diet (ALD), low salt diet (LSD), and high salt diet (HSD) during one week each. SENS w as considered as the percent change of the MBP between the seventh day of LSD and HSD. Weight, BP, and daily urinary Na+ and K+ excretion (m ean of seven days) on ALD were the same in the first (F) and second (S ) evaluation. SENS did not significantly change from the F and S measu rement. An inverse correlation was obtained between individual SENS di fference and the average mean blood pressure (AMBP) (r = -0.85, p = 0. 0018). In conclusion, patients who showed greater decreases in SENS we re the ones with the best BP control.