Progressive IgA nephropathy: the role of hypertension.

A retrospective study of 67 patients with IgA nephropathy carried out at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary revealed an overall 10-year actuarial renal survival of 77.4%. At the time of presentation, 27 patients (40.3%) were hypertensive and 40 (59.7%) were normotensive. As expected, the survival was worse in the hypertensive group. However, when the effect of control of blood pressure was assessed, a significantly worse survival was found in those whose hypertension was inadequately controlled, compared to those whose hypertension was well controlled, in whom survival was not significantly different from that of the normotensive group. The differences in survival could not be explained by increased patient age nor by longer duration of disease. Good control of hypertension may prevent progression to end-stage renal failure in IgA nephropathy.