Salt and blood pressure

A substantial amount of new information concerning salt-sensitivity of bloo d pressure in humans has appeared in the recent past. This review discusses recent studies examining two techniques used for the assessment of salt se nsitivity as well as several studies attempting to identify specific geneti c factors associated with variations in the blood pressure responses to alt erations in sodium and extracellular fluid volume. New observations related to the demographics, physiology, and mechanisms for these varied responses are also presented. (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.