Microalbuminuria and renal haemodynamics in essential hypertension

• Published in: European journal of clinical investigation Vol. 27; no. 9; pp. 755 - 760
• Main Authors: MATTEI, P., ARZILLI, F., GIOVANNETTI, R., PENNO, G., ARRIGHI, P., TADDEI, S., SALVETTI, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01.09.1997; Blackwell
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Albuminuria - complications; Arterial hypertension. Arterial hypotension; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Cardiology. Vascular system; Clinical manifestations. Epidemiology. Investigative techniques. Etiology; Essential hypertension; Female; Hemodynamics; Humans; Hypertension - complications; Hypertension - physiopathology; Kidney - physiopathology; Kidney Function Tests; Lipids - blood; Male; Medical sciences; microalbuminuria; Middle Aged; Regression Analysis; Renal Circulation; renal haemodynamics; Renal Plasma Flow; Renin - blood; Triglycerides - blood; Uric Acid - blood; Human; Hypertension; Urinary system disease; Albumin; Cardiovascular disease; Exploration; Hemodynamics; Microalbuminuria; Kidney; Proteinuria
• ISSN: 0014-2972; 1365-2362
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2362.1997.1840733.x

The present study was designed to evaluate the renal haemodynamic pattern of never‐treated microalbuminuric and normoalbuminuric patients with essential hypertension. A total of 19 never‐treated essential hypertensive patients with microalbuminuria were selected and, as control subjects, 24 never‐treated essential hypertensive patients without microalbuminuria (determined on three 24‐h urine collections) were recruited. In the two groups, we compared blood pressure values, standing plasma noradrenaline, plasma renin activity, plasma aldosterone, urinary aldosterone, lipid profile, serum glucose and uric acid, glomerular filtration rate and renal plasma flow. In comparison with normoalbuminuric patients, microalbuminuric patients showed significantly higher systolic blood pressure values (P < 0.05), higher renal vascular resistances (P < 0.05) and lower plasma renin activity values (P < 0.01). Urinary albumin excretion showed a significant positive correlation with systolic (r = 0.46, P < 0.005) and mean blood pressure (r = 0.38, P < 0.05), serum uric acid (r = 0.43, P < 0.005) and triglyceride values (r = 0.36, P < 0.005), and a significant negative correlation with plasma renin activity (r =  − 0.34, P < 0.05). The present data are consistent with the occurrence of renal vasoconstriction in microalbuminuric never‐treated essential hypertensive patients.