REVIEW PAPER
Hypertensive nephropathy – A yet unsolved problem
 
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1
Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland
 
2
Family Medicine Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland
 
 
Submission date: 2014-02-26
 
 
Acceptance date: 2014-08-27
 
 
Online publication date: 2014-09-26
 
 
Publication date: 2020-04-06
 
 
Corresponding author
Monika Kubiak   

Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, Cardiology and Infectiology, Clinical University Hospital in Olsztyn, Warszawska 30, 10-082 Olsztyn, Poland. Tel.: +48 608 730 819.
 
 
Pol. Ann. Med. 2014;21(2):147-151
 
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Despite increasingly more effective treatment methods of arterial hypertension (AH), there is a constant increase in the diagnosis of hypertensive nephropathy (HN). Diagnostic criteria of HN are not precisely defined.

Aim:
The aim of this paper is to present literature reports and systematize current knowledge on HN.

Discussion:
Although HN is defined as histological lesions in renal arteries, arterioles and interstitium that occur due to long-term primary AH, rarely diagnosis of HN is made on the basis of renal biopsy. Nephrologists agree that high blood pressure values exacerbate all forms of chronic kidney disease (CKD), accelerating its progression to end stage renal disease. However, there is no evidence that mild and moderate AH may initiate kidney damage. Recent years' discoveries of MYH9 and APOL1 gene polymorphism association with HN seem to confirm these doubts and prove that, at least in the African American population, HN may be a genetically determined disease.

Conclusions:
The concept of primary AH being the cause of HN requires reconsideration. There is evidence suggesting that lesions considered as secondary to AH may indeed be a genetically determined disorder.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST
None declared.
 
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