Pyelonephritis and hypertension

Blood pressure changes were followed up for 1-12 years (average; 3.8 years) in 46 cases of confirmed postoperative chronic pyelonephritis which had undergone ureterocutaneostomy, nephrostomy or other urologic operations. Diastolic blood pressure levels averaged 82 mmHg before operation, and 89 mmHg in the chronic stage after the operation. The incidence of hypertension (over 100 mmHg diastolic pressure) was 7% before the operation, but rose to 30% in the chronic stage. Application of an "age- and sex-adjusted score" also served to confirm a mean increase in blood pressure through the development of chronic pyelonephritis. No correlation was found between renal function and blood pressure. Nor was there any definite relationship between family history of hypertension and high blood pressure. In the 14 cases observed for plasma renin activity, values were found to be in the normal range.