Kidney Disease (Hypertension-Related) (cont.)

• Every year, high blood pressure causes more than 25,000 new cases of kidney failure in the United States.
  
  
• Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is present when the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is below 60 milliliters per minute (mL/min).
  
  
• More than 30 milligrams of albumin per gram of creatinine in a urine sample is another sign of CKD.
  
  
• People with CKD should try to keep their blood pressure below 130/80.
  
  
• Two groups of medicines called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) lower blood pressure and have an added protective effect on the kidneys.
  
  
• African Americans are six times more likely than Caucasians to develop hypertension-related kidney failure.
  
  
• Early management of high blood pressure is especially important for African Americans with diabetes.

n recent years, researchers have learned a great deal about kidney disease. The NIDDK sponsors several programs aimed at understanding kidney failure and finding treatments to stop its progression.

The NIDDK's Division of Kidney, Urologic, and Hematologic Diseases supports basic research into normal kidney function and the diseases that impair normal function, including diabetes, high blood pressure, glomerulonephritis, and polycystic kidney disease.

Participants in clinical trials can play a more active role in their own health care, gain access to new research treatments before they are widely available, and help others by contributing to medical research. For information about current studies, visit www.ClinicalTrials.gov.

SOURCE: National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. High Blood Pressure and Kidney Disease.
<http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/highblood/index.htm>

Last Editorial Review: 7/30/2008

Source: MedicineNet.com
http://www.medicinenet.com/kidney_disease_hypertension-related/article.htm