Figure 1. Pathways of salt-sensitive hypertension.
A high-salt diet may alter net salt reabsorption or augment levels of cardiotonic steroids (cardiac glycosides or digitalis) levels in the plasma. Increased net renal salt reabsorption increases water reabsorption to maintain constant plasma sodium concentrations. The resulting increased volume load elevates blood pressure. A high-salt diet also increases levels of molecules that inhibit Na+/K+ATPases. Higher local sodium concentrations may engage NCX1 and facilitate calcium entry. Iwamoto et al. show that through the action of NCX1, arterial tone is enhanced and blood pressure elevated.