Blood pressure management and renal protection: Revisiting hypertensive nephropathy

Hypertension has traditionally been the most common cardiovascular disease, and epidemiological studies suggest that the incidence continues to rise. Despite a plethora of antihypertensive agents, the management of blood pressure (BP) remains suboptimal. Addressing this issue is paramount to minimize hypertensive complications, including hypertensive nephropathy, a clinical entity whose definition has been challenged recently. Still, accumulating studies endorse poorly managed BP as an independent risk factor for both the onset of renal dysfunction and aggravation of baseline kidney disease. Nevertheless, current recommendations are not only discordant from one another but also offer inadequate evidence for the optimal BP control targets for renal protection, as since the cutoff values were primarily established on the premise of minimizing cardiovascular sequelae rather than kidney dysfunction. Although intense BP management was traditionally considered to compromise perfusion toward renal parenchyma, literature has gradually established that renal prognosis is more favorable as compared with the standard threshold. This review aims to elucidate the renal impact of poorly controlled hypertension, elaborate on contemporary clinical references for BP control, and propose future directions to improve the holistic care of hypertensive individuals.