OBJECTIVE:The study aims at assessing the relationship between blood pressure, heart geometry parameters, and the erythrocyte content of sulfur, potassium, chlorine and phosphorus, in a group of patients with laboratory systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP) below 140 or 90 mm Hg, respectively, who were otherwise healthy and untreated. METHODS:The study group consisted of 42 adults recruited in a primary care setting. The individuals were healthy, not undergoing any therapy and free from smoking. For each individual, data were obtained on: average 24-hour SBP and DBP, left ventricle geometry, complete blood count, lipids profile, fibrinogen, hs-CRP and the erythrocyte concentration of sulfur (S), potassium (K), chlorine (Cl) and phosphorus (P). RESULTS:Multivariate regression analysis showed statistically significant relationships of diastolic posterior wall thickness (PWTd) and relative wall thickness (RWT) with the concentration ratio of sulfur and potassium (S/K) in erythrocytes: PWTd and RWT increase as the S/K ratio increases. Also, SBP was found to be positively correlated with the S/K ratio. CONCLUSIONS:The increase in sulfur content in RBCs could be an indicator of the downregulation of nitric oxide (NO) erythrocyte bioavailability exerted by endogenously produced hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and, in consequence, a marker of the development of hypertension and/or adverse changes in heart geometry.

中文翻译：

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红细胞中硫含量与心血管参数和血压的关系

目的：本研究旨在评估实验室收缩压和舒张压（SBP，DBP）低于 140 或分别为 90 毫米汞柱，否则健康且未经治疗。方法：研究组由在初级保健机构招募的 42 名成年人组成。这些人身体健康，没有接受任何治疗，也没有吸烟。对于每个人，获得的数据包括：平均 24 小时 SBP 和 DBP、左心室几何形状、全血细胞计数、血脂分布、纤维蛋白原、hs-CRP 以及红细胞中硫 (S)、钾 (K)、氯 ( Cl) 和磷 (P)。结果：多元回归分析显示舒张期后壁厚度 (PWTd) 和相对壁厚 (RWT) 与红细胞中硫和钾的浓度比 (S/K) 具有统计学意义的关系：PWTd 和 RWT 随 S/K 比的增加而增加。此外，发现 SBP 与 S/K 比呈正相关。结论：红细胞中硫含量的增加可能是内源性产生的硫化氢 (H2S) 所施加的一氧化氮 (NO) 红细胞生物利用度下调的指标，因此，是高血压和/或不良反应发展的标志。心脏几何形状的变化。此外，发现 SBP 与 S/K 比呈正相关。结论：红细胞中硫含量的增加可能是内源性产生的硫化氢 (H2S) 所施加的一氧化氮 (NO) 红细胞生物利用度下调的指标，因此，是高血压和/或不良反应发展的标志。心脏几何形状的变化。此外，发现 SBP 与 S/K 比呈正相关。结论：红细胞中硫含量的增加可能是内源性产生的硫化氢 (H2S) 所施加的一氧化氮 (NO) 红细胞生物利用度下调的指标，因此，是高血压和/或不良反应发展的标志。心脏几何形状的变化。