[Renal hypertension: pathogenesis and therapy]

The kidney is both the source and target of high blood pressure. The pathogenesis of renal parenchymatous hypertension is significantly affected by sodium retention, inappropriate activity of vasopressoric systems and other factors. Drugs inhibiting the renin-angiotensin system are the treatment of choice in diabetic and non-diabetic nephropathies. The nephroprotective effect of long-acting dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers as well as of other compounds is currently under investigation.