Obesity, blood pressure, and renal sodium handling.

A substantial body of work has been recently directed toward elucidation of the relationships between body weight, blood pressure, and renal and vascular function. In this review only a few of the myriad studies are highlighted in order to survey areas of current investigation and controversy. Epidemiologic studies have confirmed the blood pressure-body weight relationship but suggest a link to insulin resistance. The majority of investigative work in the mechanism and abnormalities in obesity and their link to blood pressure have focused on the kidney as the primary organ of interest. In addition to alterations in renal blood flow and function, the sympathetic nervous system has also been implicated. The role of the major adrenal steroid dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) has been examined, as have the roles of bradykinin and leptin, the exiting new polypeptide thought to play a role in obesity.