Zeitschrift für genetische Störungen und genetische Berichte

Genetic Determinants of Salt- Sensitive Hypertension

Marlene Shehata, Fady Youssef and Alan Pater

Genetic Determinants of Salt - Sensitive Hypertension

Despite the marked advances in research on genetic determinants of salt-sensitive hypertension in human and animal models of saltsensitivity, the mechanisms underlying salt-sensitivity that is induced by high levels of salt in the diet remain unclear. While excessive dietary sodium chloride (NaCl or salt) intake is a predominant cause of hypertension, the individual blood pressure response to high salt intake is heterogeneous. The existence of interindividual variability in the genetic make-up of individuals might explain the different blood pressure responses to excessive dietary salt intake.