Beta-blocker action on lymphocyte proliferative response in essential hypertension.

The proliferative response of phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) - stimulated lymphocytes of healthy donors and hypertensive subjects was analysed according to 3H-thymidine incorporation and cell cycle phase position on a flow cytofluorimeter. 3H-thymidine uptake and the percentage of cells in (S + G2) phase were significantly lower in hypertensive patients. After short-term propranolol administration the lymphocyte blastogenic response in essential hypertension increased by 30--100%.

HLA antigens and the complement system in essential hypertension.

Heredity factors are of great importance in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension, but their role was until recently not reliably proved. It was only after research into histocompatibility antigens that it was possible to discover the genetic determination of a number of diseases. The purpose of the study was to reveal the genetic factors raising the risk of essential hypertension (EH).