Hypertensive renal disease: Histological aspects

Hypertensive nephropathy is one of the common causes of end-stage renal disease. Hypertension is intimately linked with the kidney as kidney diseases may lead to increased blood pressure and hypertension can be the cause of renal disease. Majority cases of hypertension are primary or essential. Renal parenchymal diseases and renovascular hypertension are important causes of secondary hypertension. Fibrous dysplasia and atherosclerosis constitute majority cases of renovascular hypertension. Renal diseases with hypertension has been divided in to the benign nephrosclerosis and malignant nephrosclerosis. Benign nephrosclerosis is characterized by hyaline arteriolosclerosis and intimal fibrosis and reduplication of internal elastic lamina of arcuate and interlobular arteries. Malignant hypertensive nephropathy is characterized by hyerplastic arteriolitis and fibrinoid necrosis of arterioles and glomeruli.