Clinico-biochemical investigation of 76 persons with borderline arterial hypertension (BAH) aged 15 to 64 and 60 controls with assessment of some parameters of lipid, carbohydrate and water-salt metabolism was carried out. Gustatory sensitivity to sodium chloride was studied. Differences in the levels of these indices were revealed in patients with BAH with relation to the presence or absence of basal changes on ECG and fundus of the eye; there were also some differences in risk factors in BAH and essential hypertension.