The kallikrein-kinin system, renal function and hypertensive diseases.

The possibility that kallikrein and kinins play an important part in kidney function is strengthened by data that localized and characterized system components, described their pharmacologic effects and responses to various drugs and maneuvers, and discovered system abnormalities in hypertensive and renal diseases. The available data support the contention that further investigation will lead to important insights into the contribution the kallikrein-kinin system makes to normal kidney function.