Hypertension in Polycystic Kidney Disease

Abstract

The relationship of blood pressure to serum creatinine was studied in 59 patients with bilateral polycystic kidney disease admitted to Sahlgrenska sjukhuset in Goteborg for various reasons during the years 1967-71. Hypertension, defined as a resting recumbent blood pressure of 5=160/100 mmHg, was found in 82% of all patients. In patients with normal serum creatinine, the incidence hypertension was 75% indicating that an increased blood pressure commonly precedes impairment of renal function, as determined by serum creatinine. Factors such as age, urinary tract infections, renal artery stenosis, or diabetes were not significantly correlated to the development of hypertension. As expected, a higher blood pressure was found in patients with advanced renal insufficiency, the exception being patients with terminal uremia.