Hypertension and chronic renal insufficiency

Abstract

In the last ten years the incidence of patients with terminal renal insufficiency has been continuously rising. A decrease in numbers is expected through vigorous treatment of systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Any antihypertensive therapy--independent of the substance group used--decreasing blood pressure, will slow down the progression of renal insufficiency. Whenever possible, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor should be part of the treatment, since these drugs have been shown to be renoprotective beyond their antihypertensive effect in certain renal diseases. This review will discuss pathogenesis, treatment and the use of renoprotective drugs in hypertensive patients with chronic renal failure.