[Increased cardiovascular arteriosclerosis risk in patients with analgesic nephropathy (author's transl)].

The retrospective investigation of 54 patients with analgesic nephropathy showed the relatively early occurrence of coronary sclerosis and an increased frequency of arteriosclerotic renal artery stenosis. Angina pectoris was found in 14 patients with a mean age of 48 1/2 years. Summation of risk factors is the probable cause of the tendency for arteriosclerosis: hypercholesterolaemia and hypertriglyceridaemia was found in 29 patients, arterial hypertension in 42 patients, which was so severe in half of the patients that combined treatment with two or more drugs was necessary. The causes of lipid metabolism disturbances as well as the pathogenesis of arterial hypertension are not known. Arteriosclerotic renal artery stenoses observed in 8 patients are not likely to be the cause of hypertension.