END-STAGE RENAL-DISEASE - WHY ARENT IMPROVEMENTS IN HYPERTENSION TREATMENT REDUCING THE RISK

Although we have seen a decreased incidence of some of the complicatio ns of hypertension, such as myocardial infarction and stroke, the same cannot be said for end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The disparity brin gs up the question of why improvements in hypertension control apparen tly do not bring improvement in the incidence of ESRD. Some of the fac tors likely at play include variation in the mechanisms at work in hyp ertensive patients of different races and variation in the degree to w hich antihypertensive agents affect systemic blood pressure and glomer ular capillary pressure. These and other factors relating to hypertens ion and ESRD are the focus of this review.