003) (Fig. 2A). On the other hand, a reduced eGFR of < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 was not positively associated with the incidence of hypertension in nearly all of the subgroups tested (Fig. 2B). A reduced eGFR of < 50 ml/min/1.73 m2 (vs. eGFR ≥ 60 ml/min/1.73 m2) was significantly associated with the incidence of hypertension in several groups, with Selleck NSC 683864 few interactions (Fig. 2C).

We conducted a sensitivity analysis BMI cut off of 23.0 kg/m2, because the Regional Office for Western Pacific Region of WHO (WPRO criteria) proposed a separate classification of obesity for Asia defining adult overweight as a BMI ≥ 23.0 kg/m2, and got similar results (data not shown). The present study, which employed annual blood pressure measurement for 10 years, demonstrated that dipstick proteinuria and a reduced eGFR are associated with incident hypertension independently of each other and act as potential confounders in young to middle-aged Japanese males. The

observed positive associations were consistent for proteinuria in various clinical subgroups. Similarly, a significant association between the eGFR and the incidence of hypertension was observed in the participants with an eGFR of < 50 ml/min/1.73 m2. When eGFR values of < 60 or ≥ 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 were compared, the associations Cobimetinib were not significant after adjusting for age and other potential confounders. Our results showing a positive association between proteinuria and incident hypertension Rutecarpine are in line with those of previous studies (Brantsma et al., 2006, Forman et al., 2008, Gerber et al., 2006, Inoue et al., 2006, Jessani et al., 2012, Wang et al., 2005 and Wang et al., 2007) and extend the literature in several aspects.

First, we confirmed the presence of this association among a large cohort of Asian males. Second, the association was independent of eGFR. Third, the association remained significant, even in the participants with an optimal BP at baseline. This means that our findings did not change after excluding individuals with latently elevated BP associated with proteinuria, who are likely to develop hypertension. Fourth, we observed a consistent association across several subgroups according to clinical risk factors, such as age, diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia. Finally, we were able to evaluate the association for a long term of over 10 years. There are several potential mechanisms linking proteinuria to incident hypertension. Proteinuria exerts a toxic effect on proximal tubular epithelial cells, generating chemotactic factors, such as monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) (Morigi et al., 2002 and Wang et al., 1999). These factors damage the renal microvasculature and tubulointerstitium, resulting in the impairment of salt excretion and thus salt-sensitive hypertension (Johnson et al., 2002). Additionally, protein overload in proximal tubular cells leads to the secretion of endothelin-1, which can constrict systemic blood vessels (Dhaun et al., 2012).