DALLAS, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers say keeping blood pressure in check may ease proteinuria -- excess protein in the urine -- which can be a marker for kidney disease.
Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas say they were surprised to find lowering blood pressure levels of African-American patients had no effect on disease progression to dialysis, kidney transplantation or death when those with and without proteinuria were included.
However, the cohort study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, finds keeping blood pressure readings at about 130/80 millimeters of mercury reduced the risk of proteinuria progression by 27 percent.
"We found that those with proteinuria who were assigned to more aggressive blood pressure control during the trial fared better in the long run," Dr. Robert Toto says in a statement. "We are very proud of the fact that we were able to extend the results of the trial and learn more about progression of kidney disease in this population."
Toto and colleagues lowered blood pressure in 1,094 African-American patients with kidney disease to about 130/80 mm Hg.
