Abstract :
Background: Essential hypertension is considered one of the major risk factors for morbidity and mortality in modern
civilized life. Because of the involvement of ions in contraction of excitable tissues like vascular smooth muscles and
myocardium, alteration in the cation transport across cell membrane plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of essential
hypertension. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of β blocker, atenolol and ACE inhibitor, enalapril on the
concentration of serum sodium, potassium and calcium in pre and postmenopausal hypertensive women as compared to
normotensive women. Methods: The study was conducted in the medicine department of the institution. For the study,
selection of 30 pre and 30 postmenopausal women patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension and 60 normal
controls for both the groups was done. The age group of premenopausal hypertensive women was 30-50 years and for
postmenopausal hypertensive women it was 50-70 years. Venous blood sample was withdrawn from the study groups and
serum was used for estimation of serum sodium, potassium and calcium. ‘Systronic’ flame photometer was used for
estimation of serum sodium and potassium. Results: A significant decrease in the blood pressure of patients treated with
both atenolol and enalapril was observed in groups of pre and postmenopausal women with essential hypertension.
Significant variations were seen in the concentrations of serum sodium, potassium and calcium (p
Keyword :
atenolol, enalapril, sodium, potassium, calcium, hypertension