Renal plasma flow, filtration fraction and microalbuminuria in hypertensive patients: Effects of chronic smoking

SUMMARY: Introduction:  Albumin excretion rate is usually increased in people who smoke, but the physiological basis of this phenomenon is not fully understood. Methods:  The effect of chronic smoking on renal haemodynamics was studied in a cohort of 66 men. Twenty-seven were smokers and 36 were hypertensive. In all subjects, the albumin excretion rate was evaluated; in hypertensive patients, a renoscintigraphic evaluation of renal plasma flow and glomerular filtration were carried out and the filtration fraction was calculated. Results:  The hypertensive smoking population presented an increased urinary albumin excretion rate in comparison with hypertensive non-smoking patients. No signifi…