The kidney in essential hypertension: culprit or victim?
Clinical and experimental data clearly demonstrate that, at least in some forms of hypertension, removal of the kidney and its replacement by a non-hypertensinogenic organ may counteract the development of this disease. Although their specific involvement has yet to be determined, a number of vasoactive and sodium-retaining systems originating from the kidney are important in blood pressure control and play a key role in essential hypertension. Even if the triggering mechanisms do not lie within this organ, the kidney is at least an essential link for the expression of essential hypertension.
Carrière
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Research Centre, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, Montreal, Quebec.
D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000503:physiopathology*