The kidney plays a key role in the control of body fluids and blood pressure. Evidence has shown that impairment of renal function can lead to the development of arterial hypertension. The regulation of renal blood flow appears to be a key element in the pathophysiology of the hypertensive process, because multiple evidence suggests the existence of a functional enhancement of renal vascular tone in this disorder. The existence of renal vasoconstriction and of an inherited defect in the regulation of renal blood flow has been proposed in the prehypertensive stage. The mechanisms responsible for this alteration include a lack of modulation of the renal vasculature to angiotensin II, increased sympathetic activity, or suppressed renal dopaminergic activity. Established hypertension is characterized by elevated renal vascular resistance, decreased renal blood flow, sustained glomerular filtration rate, and increased filtration fraction. The increase in renal vascular resistance is initially due to elevations in renal vascular tone and is reversible, whereas later it becomes irreversible because of structural changes involved in nephrosclerosis. Antihypertensive drugs are able to decrease blood pressure and to prevent the development of further renal vascular damage independently of variable effects on renal hemodynamics. (Hypertension. 1994^3 -3 -9.)Key Words • hemodynamics • glomerular filtration rate • sodium • hypertension, arterial • antihypertensive agents I t has long been known that the kidney plays a central role in the control of body fluids and blood pressure and that a derangement of renal function could lead to the development of hypertension.1 Furthermore, several theories have been proposed as to which specific hemodynamic or tubular alterations could induce an elevation of blood pressure.2 " 8 In this review, the clinical studies investigating changes in renal function accompanying the development and maintenance of essential hypertension are critically examined. The studies indicate that the common manifestation of hypertension is an increase of intrarenal vascular resistance; however, the manner in which this single alteration could trigger all the pathophysiological alterations responsible for hypertension is not completely known.
Renal Hemodynamics in the Prehypertensive State in HumansThe role of the kidney in the development of essential hypertension has been examined in studies of control and experimental subjects with a family history of hypertension.9 These studies have revealed conflicting results. Bianchi et al 10 -11 found that renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate were elevated in offspring of hypertensive parents, whereas filtration fraction remained normal. glomerular filtration rate were normal in the offspring of both normotensive and hypertensive parents; however, renal vascular resistance was increased.13 Van Hooft et al 14 reported that renal blood flow was reduced and renal vascular resistance and filtration fraction were elevated in young people at risk for hy...