Renal consequences of arterial hypertension.
OBJECTIVE
To seek ways of improving the prognosis for renal function in the presence of arterial hypertension.


BACKGROUND
Nephrosclerosis is a term used to define the renal damage induced by arterial hypertension. The renal vasculature can participate in the genesis of essential hypertension and can suffer the consequences of elevated blood pressure. There is no doubt that antihypertensive therapy has dramatically improved the prognosis for renal function in the presence of arterial hypertension.
There appears to be a need for a further improvement in the prognosis for renal hypertension. At present, the prevalence of nephrosclerosis as a cause of terminal renal failure may be increasing and a progressive fall in renal function in treated hypertensive patients compared to normotensives has been described.


CONCLUSIONS
It is not yet clear whether improvements in renal hypertension depend merely on the effectiveness of antihypertensive therapy in reducing arterial blood pressure or whether it will be necessary to improve the metabolic disturbances that accompany hypertension or the renal hemodynamic effects of different drugs before the prognosis for nephrosclerosis can be improved.
Ruilope
L M
LM
Hypertension Unit, 12 de Octubre Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
Alcázar
J M
JM
Rodicio
J L
JL
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015994:Incidence; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D009400:Nephrosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents