The influence of the blood levels of lead, aluminum and vanadium upon the arterial hypertension.

The present study describes the relationship between the whole blood Pb, plasma Al and plasma V levels and the arterial hypertension, for four groups of individuals: 20 normotensive azotemic patients in periodic hemodialysis (CRF), 20 hypertensive azotemic patients in periodic hemodialysis (CRF-AHT), 20 individuals with severe essential hypertension and normal renal function (AHT) and 20 individuals with normal renal function and normal blood pressure (controls) evaluated during a period of 1 year. The renal population's blood Pb was comparable with that found in the non-renal groups. Blood Pb in the essential AHT was higher than in controls (P < 0.05). CRF and CRF-AHT showed higher Al levels than those individuals with normal renal function (P < 0.01). In CRF, plasma Al did not correlate with the arterial hypertension. Plasma Al was increased in the AHT individuals (P < 0.05) with respect to the control group, suggesting the possible influence of this metal in the appearance of the arterial hypertension. In this study, the CRF-AHT patients had plasma V statistically higher (P < 0.005) than controls. However, no differences were found between plasma V of CRF and CRF-AHT groups or between AHT and controls. These results suggest that V in AHT is of doubtful significance, except maybe when the renal failure and the arterial hypertension appear together. In summary, high levels of blood Pb and plasma Al are associated with arterial hypertension in individuals without renal disease. Higher plasma V levels were not found in hypertensives with normal renal function with respect to controls.