[Renal function and hemodynamics in hypertension]

Hypertension is one of important causes of impairment in renal function. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) remains stable while renal blood flow (RBF) declines in patients with long-term essential hypertension, resulting in an increased filtration fraction. Myogenic response of afferent arterioles and tubuloglomerular feedback to maintain RBF and GFR and sodium homeostasis can be impaired in salt-sensitive hypertension, whereas they are relatively normal in essential hypertension and its rat model. Position of pressure-natriuresis curve is shifted to the right without alteration in the slope of the curve in essential (non-salt-sensitive) hypertension, whereas the slope is significantly decreased in salt-sensitive hypertension, such as nephritis-related hypertension and diabetic nephropathy because of decreased ultrafiltration coefficient and increased sodium reabsorption.