title: Factors associated with a vicious cycle involving a low nephron number, hypertension and chronic kidney disease.
abstract: It has been reported that there is substantial variation in the nephron number between individuals. Previous studies using autopsy kidneys have demonstrated that a low nephron number, in relation to a low birth weight, may result in hypertension (HTN) and/or chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, recent studies have revealed that the association between a low nephron number and HTN is not a universal finding. This observation indicates that a low nephron number is unlikely to be the sole factor contributing to an elevated blood pressure. In addition to the nephron number, various genetic and congenital factors may contribute to increased susceptibility to HTN and/or CKD in a complex manner. Acquired factors, including aging, obesity and related metabolic abnormalities, and various causes of renal injury, may additionally promote further nephron loss. Such a vicious cycle may induce HTN and/or CKD via the common mechanisms of renal hemodynamic maladaptation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Go
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kanzaki
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tsuboi
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kotaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Haruhara
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kentaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koike
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ogura
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytic Human Pathology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yokoo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D006977:Hypertension, Renal / Q000473:pathology*; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D009399:Nephrons / Q000473:pathology*; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000473:pathology*; D012307:Risk Factors