[Arterial hypertension and renal vascular disease: nephroangiosclerosis]

Nephroangiosclerosis and nephrosclerosis are terms used to define the renal disease induced by essential hypertension. The predominant histologic changes occur in the preglomerular microvasculature. Epidemiological data about the risk of hypertensive patients from developing renal failure offer conflicting results. Nevertheless, renal vascular disease, including nephroangiosclerosis and/or ischemic nephropathy, appears to be an important cause of end-stage renal disease. Presumably, nephrosclerosis is the renal expression of systemic atherosclerosis: male sex, age > 55-60 years, black race, high serum cholesterol and/or uric acid levels, and coronary heart disease, peripheral artery disease, and/or cerebrovascular disease are common associations with the renal alteration. Treatment strategy should include an intensive blood pressure control, probably below 130/80 mmHg, together with antiplatelet and lipid-lowering agents when necessary. Although specific studies are lacking, ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II antagonists may offer additional benefits in slowing the renal disease progression.