Relevance of Salt, Water, and Renin to Hypertension in Chronic Renal Failure

Abstract

Blood pressure control was examined in 75 patients with’ end-stage renal failure treated by regular twice-weekly haemodialysis. Dietary sodium was restricted and extracellular fluid was removed by ultrafiltration until blood pressure was normal or signs of salt depletion were observed. Failure of these measures constituted an indication for nephrectomy. Of the 75 patients, 18 were never hypertensive, 46 had hypertension which could be corrected by salt and water depletion, and 11 had persistent hypertension which could not be controlled in this way. Nine of these 11 patients underwent bilateral nephrectomy; in each of the seven in whom the post operative result could be evaluated the blood pressure returned rapidly to normal. © 1970, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.