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Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Estimation of Nephron Number in Whole Kidney using the Acid Maceration Method
Published on: May 22, 2019
Hypertension and the kidney
1Division of Nephrology/Transplantation, University of Liège, Sart Titman B35, Belgium. jm.krzesinski@chu.ulg.ac.be
Insights
Essential hypertension and kidney disease are closely linked, with high blood pressure accelerating kidney failure. Aggressive blood pressure management is crucial for patients with chronic kidney disease, especially using renin-angiotensin axis blockers.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Cardiology
- Hypertension Research
Background:
- The kidney can be a cause of essential hypertension, leading to renal disease.
- Hypertension is prevalent in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and accelerates kidney failure.
- A strong link exists between hypertension and kidney health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To emphasize the critical link between hypertension and kidney disease.
- To advocate for aggressive blood pressure control in CKD patients.
- To highlight the benefits of specific antihypertensive drug classes.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on hypertension and kidney disease.
- Analysis of blood pressure goals in CKD patients.
- Evaluation of antihypertensive drug classes, focusing on renin-angiotensin axis blockers.
Main Results:
- Hypertension is a significant risk factor for CKD progression.
- Recommended blood pressure goal for CKD patients is <130/80 mmHg, or <125/75 mmHg with proteinuria >1g/day.
- Renin-angiotensin axis blockers provide nephroprotective and cardioprotective benefits beyond blood pressure reduction.
Conclusions:
- Aggressive hypertension management is vital for CKD patients.
- Specific blood pressure targets should be individualized based on proteinuria.
- Renin-angiotensin axis blockers are recommended for their dual protective effects.
Abstract:
The kidney could be the cause of essential hypertension which can also cause renal disease. High blood pressure is also very common in chronic kidney disease, and is moreover a well-known risk factor for a faster progression of kidney failure. Hypertension and kidneys are thus closely linked. Hypertension must be aggressively treated in patients suffering from chronic kidney disease, with a blood pressure goal of less than 130/80 mmHg, even lower than 125/75 mmHg when proteinuria is over 1g/day, using optimal and effective antihypertensive drugs. Among them, the blockers of the renin-angiotensin axis offer nephroprotective but also cardioprotective properties beyond their effect on blood pressure.
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