SUMMARY

Based on the above, patients with hypertension and renal disease can be divided into several groups: those with true “essential hypertension” that may result in renal disease; those with a primary renal disease that causes secondary hypertension but is mislabeled as “hypertensive kidney disease”; and those with malignant hypertension in whom renal failure presents acutely.

No matter the cause of the renal disease, it is clear that uncontrolled hypertension leads to progression of renal failure and should thus be treated aggressively. The optimal blood pressure targets, however, remain unknown.