Why does glomerulonephritis cause hypertension

Chun-Gyoo Ihm , M. Find articles by Chun-Gyoo Ihm. Author information Article notes Copyright and License information Disclaimer. Corresponding author. Received Dec 3; Accepted Dec This article has been cited by other articles in PMC. Abstract Chronic glomerulonephritis GN , which includes focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and proliferative forms of GN such as IgA nephropathy, increases the risk of hypertension.

Prevalence of hypertension in chronic glomerulonephritis Hypertension is a frequent finding in chronic kidney diseases. Pathophysiology of hypertension in chronic GN There are three main factors contributing to the development of hypertension in patients with chronic GN, which are similar to those in essential hypertension, but more accentuated Table 1.

Table 1 Pathogenesis of hypertension in chronic glomerulonephritis. Open in a separate window. Table 2 Relationship between blood pressure and clinicopathological findings in patients with IgA nephropathy.

References 1. Primary glomerular disease. The kidney. Philadelphia: Saunders; Hypertension in primary chronic glomerulonephritis: analysis of biopsied patients. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and progression in patients with IgA nephropathy. Nephrol Dial Transplant. Kaplan NM. Clinical Hypertension. Renal parenchymal hypertension; pp. Causes and consequences of increased sympathetic activity in renal disease.

Impact of hypertension and hypertension-related vascular lesions in IgA nephropathy. Hypertens Res. Arteriolar hyalinosis and arterial hypertension as possible surrogate markers of reduced interstitial blood flow and hypoxia in glomerulonephritis. The individual will probably have to reduce fluid intake and avoid drinks or food containing alcohol or high levels of protein, salt, or potassium.

Diuretics can help reduce hypertension and the slow decline of kidney function, and blood pressure medication relaxes the blood vessels. Corticosteroids and immune-suppressing drugs control inflammation. Temporary dialysis may be necessary in cases of acute glomerulonephritis. Dialysis also helps to control hypertension and to remove surplus fluid. A person with autoimmune problems may undergo plasmapheresis, a mechanical process that removes plasma with antibodies from the blood, and replaces it with other fluid or donated plasma.

A kidney transplant may be possible if the individual is otherwise healthy. For people who cannot receive a transplant, dialysis may be the only option. Glomerulonephritis can lead to hypertension, heart failure , pulmonary edema , and damage to other organs. Without treatment, the kidneys might fail completely. Waste products build up quickly, making emergency dialysis necessary. When the kidney function drops to less than 10 percent of its normal capacity, the individual is diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease and will require regular dialysis or a kidney transplant to stay alive.

Most forms of glomerulonephritis cannot be prevented, but there are some ways to reduce the risk:. Choosing a healthy lifestyle with plenty of exercise, quality sleep, and a well-rounded diet can reduce the risk of glomerulonephritis as well as the risk of other infections and hypertension. Consuming higher amounts of caffeine could be an effective, inexpensive way to increase survival for patients with chronic kidney disease, say….

People with chronic kidney disease need to avoid eating potassium-rich foods. Damaged kidneys cannot process potassium properly, which can then build…. The kidneys are essential for balancing the body's internal environment. They help regulate fluid levels and blood pressure, and if they do not work…. Benign prostatic hyperplasia BPH refers to enlargement of the prostate that is unrelated to cancer. Because of the positions of the prostate and….

What is glomerulonephritis? Medically reviewed by Carissa Stephens, R. Symptoms Causes Risk factors Scarring Diagnosis Treatment Complications Prevention Glomerulonephritis refers to a range of inflammatory kidney conditions of the tiny blood vessels in the kidneys, known as glomeruli.

Our website uses cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing to use our site, or clicking "Continue," you are agreeing to our Cookie Policy Continue. Twitter Facebook. This Issue. November 27, JOHN H. First Page Preview View Large. When an immune system problem causes GN, doctors prescribe steroids and other drugs that help suppress the immune system. Antibiotics can treat a bacterial infection.

Some people may need a treatment to clean the blood using an artificial filter, called dialysis , if their kidneys are greatly and irreversibly damaged. To deal with uncomfortable symptoms, doctors may give medicines to lower blood pressure or help the kidneys make pee and get rid of waste.

A person might need to drink less fluids than usual and eat a diet that's low in protein, salt, and potassium. In most cases of acute GN, the damage to the glomeruli eventually heals. How long this takes is different for everyone. Acute GN that doesn't respond to treatment can become chronic. There's no specific way to treat chronic glomerulonephritis. To help healing and prevent more damage to the kidneys, a doctor might recommend that someone:.

When these methods don't help enough to prevent lasting kidney damage, a person may need dialysis treatments or a kidney transplant.