Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, occurs when the force of the blood against the blood vessel walls increases enough to cause damage. Hypertension damages blood vessels in the kidneys. The most common renal complications from damaged kidneys include high blood pressure, heart disease, anemia and bone disease. According to research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, hypertension affects up to 50 million people in the United States.
High Blood Pressure
Hypertension causes renal disease and renal complications. Renal disease by itself can cause hypertension. High blood pressure causes kidneys to retain fluid which increases blood pressure even more. Early detection and treatment of hypertension can keep renal disease from getting worse. Keeping the blood pressure below 130/80 mm Hg will slow down the progression of renal disease according to research published by the National Kidney Foundation.
Heart Disease
Heart disease is a common renal complication. According to the American Association of Kidney Patients, most patients with renal disease will die of events related to heart disease before renal failure develops. People with renal disease are more likely to have a heart attack, stroke or chest pain. Hypertension causes kidney damage and this causes abnormal blood cholesterol levels. Many factors influence the prevalence of abnormal cholesterol in renal disease including the actual treatment of renal disease. Having too much cholesterol in the blood causes plaque or fatty deposits to form in the blood vessels, including heart blood vessels. When blood vessels become clogged this leads to heart attacks and strokes. Attention to heart disease risk factors remains the cornerstone of care to delay progression of renal disease and prevent heart disease.
Anemia
The kidneys help make red blood cells when needed. When hypertension causes kidney damage, red blood cell production can decrease causing anemia. According to the National Kidney Foundation, anemia can happen early in the course of renal disease but nearly all patients who progress to renal failure develop anemia. Anemia results from a decrease in the circulating red blood cells and is usually detected by low blood hemoglobin concentration. Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, an iron-rich protein, which carries oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body. A consistent lack of oxygen in the blood can damage the heart, the brain and other organs.
Mineral and Bone Disorders
Renal disease causes mineral and bone complications. Under normal conditions, levels of calcium, phosphorus and parathyroid hormone, PTH, are regulated by the kidney. Reduced renal function leads to decreased phosphorus excretion, which causes decreased vitamin D and calcium absorption. This causes the PTH levels to rise. All these abnormalities, if allowed to exist, can lead to bone abnormalities, fractures, calcification of the skeleton, heart disease and even death. The international organization, Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes just released medical guidelines for clinicians to advance knowledge diagnosing and treating the mineral and bone disorders in renal disease.
References
- Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative: Clinical Practice Guidelines for Chronic Kidney Disease: Evaluation, Classification, and Stratification
- Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative: Clinical Practice Guidelines on Hypertension and Antihypertensive Agents in Chronic Kidney Disease
- Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative: Clinical Practice Guidelines for Managing Dyslipidemias in Chronic Kidney Disease
- American Association of Kidney Patients: The Heart of Chronic Kidney Disease
- Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes: Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Diagnosis, Evaluation, Prevention, and Treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease-Mineral and Bone Disorder
