General and regional hemodynamics in hypertension in chronic renal disease

Cardiac output, total peripheral vascular resistance, renal, extrarenal, forearm muscle and skin hemodynamics and an indicator of the splanchic vascular resistance were estimated in 20 subjects with chronic renal disease without signs of chronic renal failure and without anemia. The data were compared with a group of subjects with essential hypertension. The high blood pressure of chronic renal disease of mild or moderate severity was maintained in the first place by a high cardiac output, this being due to a rise of the stroke volume, while the heart rate was only slightly increased. The total peripheral vascular resistance was within the normal range in most of the subjects. The vascular resistance in the skin was slightly raised, that in the splanchnic area and muscle unchanged in renal hypertension. The possible pathogenic mechanisms are considered.