Proteinuria in Hypertensive Nephropathy: A Review

Hypertension defined as a systolic blood pressure of ≥140 and a diastolic blood pressure ≥90 is an extremely prevalent condition; and it is responsible for significant mortality and morbidity. NHANES data from 2005-2006 found that nearly 30% of adult US population has HTN; and nearly 8% of the population has undiagnosed HTN. HBP mortality in 2008 was 61,005. Any mentioned mortality in 2008 was 347,689 (NHLBI tabulation of NCHS mortality data). More than 20% of patients with systemic hypertension have chronic renal insufficiency (NHANES). Hypertensive nephropathy is a leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring dialysis or transplantation or leading to death. The incidence of hypertension is high but only a subset of hypertensive patients progress to frank renal failure. A subset of hypertensive patients develop proteinuria during the course of disease and manifest nephrotic syndrome. This syndrome includes marked proteinuria, edema, and low serum albumin. Neither the incidence nor the clinical significance of proteinuria in hypertension without diabetes is known. Progression to chronic renal failure in some patients is preceded by proteinuria as indicated on “dip-stick” analyses of random urine samples. It appears that proteinuria is likely to increase both prior to and during evident loss of glomerular filtration, but this clinical observation has never been formally confirmed. There is a need for large studies to answer these questions. We also need to focus on the roles that genetic and environmental factors play in development and progression of renal disease in the setting of hypertension and proteinuria.