Genetics of the kidney and hypertension.

Success in the search for genes that cause or contribute to hypertension susceptibility has been limited to a few rare Mendelian forms of hypertension (glucocorticoid remediable aldosteronism, apparent mineralocorticoid excess, and Liddle's syndrome). Our well-reasoned efforts to assess candidate genes in critical pathways known to be involved in blood pressure regulation have not been as productive in complex genetic cases of hypertension. These cases involve both genetic and environmental determinants. The most frequently used approach to the identification of hypertension genes involves genetic association studies, which are population based and compare cases and controls. Linkage analyses are also used but require family data. While much effort is spent identifying new markers and candidate genes, it is important to periodically determine which findings of linkage or association are confirmed in order to advance our quest to identify hypertension genes. In this review, the status of the assessment of the HSD11B2 gene is reviewed. In addition, data supporting the need to assess the mitochondrial genome, the other human genome, in hypertension susceptibility are reviewed.