Predictors of progression in hypertensive renal disease in children.

In hypertensive renal disease in children, several risk factors influence the development and the rate of progression of renal damage, including blood pressure levels, proteinuria, lipid disorders, and genetic differences. The impact of blood pressure on renal structures, the most important of the factors, depends not only on blood pressure levels, but also on the persistence of the blood pressure levels over time, mainly during the hours when the patient is resting or sleeping. Abnormal circadian variability is frequently observed in patients with renal damage, and nocturnal blood pressure reduction should be a major therapeutic objective to protect against a decline in renal function. Proteinuria is a guide for establishing targets and for monitoring treatment. It should be reduced as much as possible to obtain maximal renoprotective effect. The role of the other factors, such as lipid disorders and genetics, remains elusive.