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Familial Hyperkalemia and Hypertension: Pathogenetic Insights Based on Lithium Clearance

Department of Medicine E (H.M., Z.F.), Laboratory of Biochemical Pharmacology (S.M., Z.F.), Laboratory of Molecular Nephrology (E.J.H), and Gertner Institute of Epidemiology (I.N.), Sheba Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Hashomer, Israel 52621

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Zvi Farfel M.D., Department of Medicine E, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel 52621. E-mail: farfel{at}post.tau.ac.il.

Context: Familial hyperkalemia and hypertension (FHHt) is caused by mutations in WNK kinases. Its pathogenesis is not completely understood.

Objective: Our objective was to investigate the mechanism of hypercalciuria in FHHt.

Design and Setting: We conducted a study of a large family with FHHt and WNK4 Q565E mutation and of control subjects at a referral medical center.

Subjects: Forty-six members of a family with FHHt and WNK4 Q565E mutation, 23 of them affected, and 12 control subjects participated.

Main Outcome Measures: Urinary calcium and sodium concentrations, endogenous lithium clearance, age of hypertension appearance were assessed.

Results: In 40 urine samples of 20 affected subjects, urinary calcium was correlated to urinary sodium (r = 0.567; P = 0.0001). In 28 urinary samples of 22 unaffected members, no correlation was found (r = 0.285; P = 0.14). Mean ratio of urinary calcium to urinary sodium was 2.7-fold higher in affected compared with unaffected members (58.7 ± 25.9 vs. 22.1 ± 14.0 µmol/mmol, P < 0.0001). Endogenous lithium clearance in eight affected members was about 50% lower than in 12 controls (16.2 ± 7.7 vs. 28.8 ± 9.8 ml/min, P = 0.0073). Hypertension was detected in males 12 yr earlier than in females (26.0 ± 7.5 vs. 37.9 ± 11.3 yr; P = 0.031).

Conclusions: Hypercalciuria in FHHt seems to be dependent on urinary sodium. According to molecular studies, FHHt patients are presumed to have increased distal nephron sodium reabsorption and therefore decreased proximal reabsorption of sodium, lithium, and calcium. The observed decreased lithium clearance reflects probable abnormal renal handling of lithium, i.e. distal nephron lithium reabsorption. Therefore, hypercalciuria may result from proximal nephron aberration. Finally, earlier appearance of hypertension in males may be the result of sex-hormone activity.