The kidney in essential hypertension: culprit or victim?

Clinical and experimental data clearly demonstrate that, at least in some forms of hypertension, removal of the kidney and its replacement by a non-hypertensinogenic organ may counteract the development of this disease. Although their specific involvement has yet to be determined, a number of vasoactive and sodium-retaining systems originating from the kidney are important in blood pressure control and play a key role in essential hypertension. Even if the triggering mechanisms do not lie within this organ, the kidney is at least an essential link for the expression of essential hypertension.