Natriuretic Effect of Amiloride in Relation to the Alpha Adducin Gene (ADD-AMI) RS4961 Variant

Inclusion Criteria:

• male patients aged 18-60 years;

• naïve hypertensive patients: newly diagnosed, never previously treated forhypertension;

• BMI<30 Kg/m2,

• documented first degree essential arterial hypertension (mean of the last 3consecutive systolic BP measurements must be >=140 mmHg or diastolic BP >=90 mmHg;

• signature of the informed consent for participation in the study

• patient who has already undergone genomic DNA sampling (accompanied by relativeconsent) and genotyped for the ADD1 rs4961 variant (GG, GT or TT).

Exclusion Criteria:

known causes of secondary hypertension;

• severe or malignant hypertension; history of renal artery disease;

• significant renal disease (creatinine clearance less than 60 ml/min);

• hyperkalemia (Kpl > 6mEq/l) at enrollment visit;

• hypercalcaemia (Ca pl > 2.6 mmol/l) at enrollment visit;

• symptomatic hyperuricemia (> 7.5 mg/dl);

• liver disease (transaminases greater than 3 times the normal value);

• cardiac pathologies (myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, etc.);

• diabetes (fasting blood sugar >125mg/dl);

• in therapy with statins, NSAIDs, systemic steroids;

• known hypersensitivity to Amiloride or to any of the excipients;

• patients unable to express a valid consent -