Thirty-seven essential hypertensive patients were treated with nifedipine and captopril. The effects of both drugs on high blood pressure and inteacellular cations were reported.A significant reduction in leucocyte Na concentration compared to the baseline were noted after therapy (P<0.01 in the group using nifedipine and P<0.05 in the other group). However

the intracellular Ca concentration was decreased signicantly only in the patients group using nifedipine

P<0.025.The relationship between the defect in ions transport crossing the celluar member and tesse-ntial hypertension

the mechanism of leucocyte cation reduced after therapy and the role of calcium antagonists in antihyperiensive therapy were discussed respectively