Hypertension, renal function and gout.

Hypertension was found in 18% of 65 patients with untreated gout, a lower prevalence than that previously reported. The clinical characteristics and renal function of these patients were compared with those of age matched groups of both normotensive gouty subjects and normouricaemic patients. The hypertensive patients had significantly greater body weights than their controls and also had a lower glomerular filtration rate. Other aspects of renal function were not significantly different between the three groups. The association of hypertension with gout and impaired renal function is complicated by many possible contributory factors and a simple cause and effect relationship is unlikely.