Role of kidney in hypertension

Abstract

Renin angiotensin system in the genesis of hypertension was established long after Goldblatt's belief that the minute capillaries of the kidney regulate blood pressure and he also suggested kidney released a pressure substance which lead to rise of blood pressure. Guyton provided experimental and analytical data supporting the role of renal pressure natriuresis in the regulation of normal circulation and its function resulting in the pathogenesis of hypertension. Hady and Overbeck proposed that the blood pressure of volume expanded hypertension was raised by a circulating inhibitor of the Na+/K+ ATPase pump. Brenner et al proposed that hypertension may arise from a congenital reduction in the number of nephrons or in the filtration surface area per glomerulus, thereby limiting ability to excrete sodium, raising blood pressure. Renin angiotensin system can be interrupted at four sites by adrenergic blocker, renin inhibitor, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker. Non-modulation in the face of relatively high dietary sodium could explain the pathogenesis of sodium sensitive hypertension and provide a more targeted, rational therapy for its correction.