A new hypothesis on the etiology of essential hypertension and pre eclampsia

Initial reduction in renal blood flow may be one of the etiological factors involved in essential hypertension. The resultant hypertension, acting as a compensatory mechanism, brings about a readjustment of flow to mask the initiating factor. This reduction in renal blood flow may be brought about by mechanical compression of renal artery by one of the abdominal viscera, resulting in partial occlusion of the renal artery. Factors known to be associated with essential hypertension, like obesity, probably increase the possibility of such endogenous compression of the renal arteries. A similar mechanism is proposed for the pathogenesis of pre eclampsia.