Venous volume in offspring of hypertensive patients.

Twenty normotensive healthy male offspring of hypertensive patients were compared to 20 adequate controls regarding venous volume, the effect of ouabain on venous volume and signs of left ventricular hypertrophy. Among offspring there were slightly increased amplitudes in the orthogonal ECG as compared to controls but the differences were not statistically significant. Using a plethysmographic technique we found a significantly lower venous volume of the forearm in the offspring than in controls. There was, however, no effect of ouabain on the venous volume. The decreased venous distensibility among normotensive offspring might be an early manifestation of essential hypertension.