Non-Modulating Essential Hypertension: A Subset with Sodium Sensitivity

Multiple lines of evidence suggest a role for sodium intake in the pathogenesis of hypertension, although it appears that only some hypertensives have a special sensitivity to sodium [7, 13, 25]. The frequency of “sodium-sensitive” hypertension has been estimated to be around 60% based on the efficacy of sodium restriction [4] or diuretic agents [6] in lowering blood pressure. There is also evidence to indicate that diuretics are efficacious in the same patients as respond to a reduced sodium intake [17]. A pressor response to a sodium load also occurs in about 50% of unselected, but small groups of patients [7, 13].