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 for hypertension; * BMI\<30 Kg/m2, * documented first degree essential arterial hypertension (mean of the last 3 consecutive 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 relative consent) 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 -