Impact of calcium entry blockers on glomerular injury in experimental hypertension.

A major problem for patients with kidney disease and their physicians is that most chronic renal diseases progress to global glomerular sclerosis and end-stage renal failure. Studies in experimental models of hypertension and renal insufficiency have advanced our understanding of the pathogenesis of progressive kidney damage. In a number of settings, sclerosis has been related to the presence of intrarenal hypertension, a consequence of the hemodynamic adaptation to a reduction in the number of functioning nephrons. A growing body of evidence also supports the hypothesis that kidney and glomerular hypertrophy constitute an independent risk factor for glomerular sclerosis. Recent studies suggest that calcium antagonists can reduce glomerular injury in experimental hypertension. Renal protection may be related to the ability of these agents to inhibit compensatory renal growth.