1. Increased erythrocyte sodium-lithium countertransport activity has been reported to be associated with nephropathy in type 1 diabetes and linked to a family history of essential hypertension.

2. This study aimed to determine the mechanism of increased sodium-lithium countertransport activity. Sodium-lithium countertransport kinetics were measured in uncomplicated and hyperlipidaemic type 1 diabetic patients.

3. In the nine out of 31 uncomplicated type 1 diabetic patients who had high sodium-lithium countertransport activity, the sodium affinity (Km) was normal but the maximum velocity (Vmax.) was increased.

4. Hyperlipidaemia, when present in diabetic patients, was associated with increased sodium-lithium countertransport activity, but could not explain the high activity in uncomplicated type 1 diabetic patients in whom plasma lipid concentrations were normal.

5. Sodium-lithium countertransport activity is increased in type 1 diabetes by a mechanism different to that in essential hypertension, where the mechanism is a low Km (increased sodium affinity). Hence familial hypertension cannot explain the raised sodium-lithium countertransport activity in type 1 diabetes.

Keywords:
Trevor H. Thomas, Susan J. Carr, Roy Taylor, Robert Wilkinson, diabetes, erythrocyte, hypertension, lithium, sodium
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© 1992 The Biochemical Society and the Medical Research Society
1992
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