A new study from the Medical University of Vienna has found that high blood pressure can lead to early structural damage in the kidneys, even in people who do not have type 2 diabetes.
This discovery shows the importance of detecting and treating high blood pressure early to protect kidney health.
The research team, led by Christopher Paschen and Rainer Oberbauer from the Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, and Heinz Regele from the Department of Pathology, studied kidney tissue from 99 patients.
Some of these patients had high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, while others had neither condition. The kidney tissue used in the study came from surgeries where a kidney was removed to treat cancer, and only healthy parts of the kidney were analyzed.
The scientists focused on podocytes, which are special cells in the kidney’s filtering system. These cells are found in structures called glomeruli, which are responsible for filtering waste from the blood. Healthy podocytes are essential for proper kidney function.
The researchers used advanced imaging tools and artificial intelligence to examine the tissue samples. A deep-learning algorithm was trained to scan and measure the size and number of podocytes, as well as the volume of the glomeruli.
The results showed clear changes in the kidneys of people with high blood pressure. They had fewer podocytes compared to people without high blood pressure, and the cell nuclei of the podocytes were larger.
These changes were present regardless of whether the person also had diabetes. The researchers believe this could be an early sign of kidney damage—long before any symptoms or decline in kidney function can be detected by routine tests.
According to lead author Christopher Paschen, these findings may represent the first microscopic signs of kidney injury caused by high blood pressure alone. “Our study shows that high blood pressure can harm the kidneys directly, even if the person does not have diabetes,” he said.
Kidney damage often progresses quietly, without warning signs until it is far advanced. That’s why early detection is critical. Co-authors Rainer Oberbauer and Heinz Regele stressed the importance of treating high blood pressure early to help slow the development of kidney disease and prevent permanent damage.
High blood pressure and type 2 diabetes are two of the leading causes of chronic kidney disease worldwide.
While the effects of diabetes on kidney function are well known, this study helps fill a gap in understanding how blood pressure alone may contribute to kidney problems. The new findings could help guide doctors in developing earlier and more personalized treatment strategies for patients at risk.
The research was published in the journal Hypertension and highlights how technology, including AI-powered image analysis, is helping scientists uncover new details about how diseases begin and progress in the body.
If you care about kidney health, please read studies about Scientists find important cause of kidney disease and findings of Cruciferous vegetables may reverse kidney damage in diabetics.
For more about kidney health, please read studies about High blood pressure drugs may affect kidney health and findings of Effective home remedies for kidney infections.
The study is published in Hypertension.
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