Alcohol: role in the development of hypertension and end-stage renal disease

Alcohol is a common risk factor in the general population for a variety of health outcomes. In the present review, we discuss the recent literature on alcohol, hypertension, and renal disease. The regular consumption of more than two drinks per day is associated with both hypertension and renal dise ase. The mechanisms by which consumption of alcohol leads to hypertension a nd perhaps renal disease are unknown. Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens 10:385-39 0 (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.