Kidney in Hypertension

Regulation of blood pressure is a complex integratedresponse involving a variety of organ systems including the central nervous system (CNS), cardiovascular system, kidneys, and adrenal glands. These systems modulate cardiac output, fluid volumes, and peripheral vascular resistance, the key determinants of blood pressure. More than 40 years ago, Guyton and Coleman1 developed computer models of arterial pressure control, attempting to incorporate the known vari-ables impacting blood pressure homeostasis. The conclusion of this analysis was that regulation of sodium excretion by the kidney and consequent effects on body fluid volumes made up the critical pathway determining the chronic level of intra-arterial pressure. The Renin-Angiotensin System and Blood Pressure Control Our own studies of the physiology of blood pressure regula