Hypertension in chronic renal failure

Introduction. When compared with essential arterial hypertension, the incidence of secondary arterial hypertension is low (8-10%), but it can be cured by surgery in the case of renovascular hypertension, renin producing tumors, coartaction of the aorta and some types of suprarenal gland diseases. The most frequent form of secondary hypertension is caused by chronic renal parenchymatous injury, which occurs in approximately 5% of all cases of hypertension. Table I presents the most frequent causes of this type of hypertension. As the renal insufficiency progresses, the percentage of patients who suffer arterial hypertension increases; about 85-90% of the patients in end-stage chronic renal failure present elevated blood pressure levels prior to entering in the dialysis program.