EXTRACORPOREAL SHOCK-WAVE TREATMENT RAISES BLOOD-PRESSURE IN BORDERLINE HYPERTENSIVE RATS

The long-term sequelae on kidney function and blood pressure of renal shock wave treatment were studied in normotensive Wistar rats, contral aterally nephrectomized Wistar rats and borderline hypertensive F-1-hy brids bred from stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats and Wista r-Kyoto rats. Renal shock wave treatment raised arterial blood pressur e in borderline hypertensive, but not in normotensive, rats. A concomi tant impairment of ipsilateral renal function or perfusion was not see n despite macroscopic and microscopic evidence of a loss of functionin g parenchyma. We conclude that extracorporeal shock wave treatment, by way of its detrimental effects on the kidney, has the potential to pr ovoke arterial hypertension in rats, provided that a genetic predispos ition exists.