Nephrosclerosis - are kidneys the victim of evolution?

Rafał Bednarski; Beata Jasińska; Paweł Stróżecki; Jacek Manitius

Vol 12, No 5 (2008)

Review paper

Published online: 2008-10-12

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Nephrosclerosis - are kidneys the victim of evolution?

Rafał Bednarski, Beata Jasińska, Paweł Stróżecki, Jacek Manitius

Nadciśnienie tętnicze 2008;12(5):382-388.

Vol 12, No 5 (2008)

REVIEV

Published online: 2008-10-12

Abstract

The term “nephrosclerosis” literally means “hardening of kidney”, and is a reflection of a particular histopathological state. Pathological changes in arcuate arteries and interlobular arteries in the form of hyalinosis and hypertrophy of vasal muscular coat are specific to nephrosclerosis. Vascular lesions can be accompanied by gromerular and tubulo-intestitial tissue alteration. The etiology of nephrosclerosis is not fully known, but genetic factors seem to play an important role. Nephroangiosclerosis changes occur independently of arterial hypertension, and possibly lead to its development. Interesting is the fact, that a yearlong decrease of gromerular filtration in nephrosclerotic patients is similar to those associated with aging process. It is possible, that nephrosclerosis, just as arterial hypertension, is a civilization disease which has emerged in the contemporary, rich in water and salt environment, and earlier simply did not occur.