American Kidney Fund Encouraged by German Study Regarding Possible Cause of High Blood Pressure

American Kidney Fund
Monday, 13 January 2003

The American Kidney Fund is encouraged by a German study that indicates that some people may be born at risk for high blood pressure, because they have fewer filters in their kidneys than normal. Hypertension (high blood pressure) is both a main cause and a symptom of chronic kidney disease and end stage renal disease, better known as kidney failure. The German study, done by researchers at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg and the University of Heidelberg, was published in the most recent edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.

"We know this kidney condition can occur in children born to women who did not get enough dietary protein during their pregnancy, but we have been uncertain as to the extent this plays a role in developing hypertension," stated Paul W. Crawford, AKF Chairman of Medical Affairs. He added, "This small study would seem to indicate that being predisposed to high blood pressure - at least for some individuals - could begin before birth."

Researchers studied 10 people with a history of hypertension who had died in accidents. Each was matched with another fatal accident victim (according to age, gender, height and weight) with no history of hypertension.

Kidneys of the deceased with no history of high blood pressure had two to three times more filters - blood vessels called glomeruli - than those with a history of hypertension. In addition, the glomeruli in the hypertensive kidneys were much larger, indicating overwork.

Dr. Crawford noted, "This study could certainly help to point us in the right direction in understanding the cause of high blood pressure. African Americans are, for reasons not entirely understood, more likely to develop hypertension than are whites. Since hypertension is the leading cause of kidney disease in African Americans, a similar study of African Americans could be quite valuable."

For more information, or to contact American Kidney Fund, see their website at: www.akfinc.org