Dr. Huang's study aims at the understanding of why kidney enlargement may lead to scarring and loss of organ function, in order to develop therapeutic approaches for preventing this type of kidney failure. High Blood Pressure Uncontrolled high blood pressure is the second leading cause of chronic kidney failure in the United States and one of the most common problems that can seriously harm the kidneys. Impairing urinary sodium excretion and volume regulation, it speeds up the progression of many forms of kidney injury. One third of the people who have high blood pressure are not even aware of it. Dr. Kitiyakara's work focuses on a group of chemical substances produced in the body, which are called prostaglandins.
Some prostaglandins can cause blood vessels to constrict, or narrow.
Prostaglandins can also activate specific pathways to the brain. Dr. Kitiyakara's studies examine the effects on blood pressure of giving drugs that block vasoconstrictor prostaglandins. He is also studying the genes associated with these prostaglandins. Since these prostaglandins not only raise blood pressure, but also promote kidney damage, salt retention, atherosclerosis and clumping of blood platelets, they may be very important in high blood pressure and its harmful effects on the kidney and blood vessels. Ki H. Chon, Ph.D. , a recipient of a Young Investigator Grant at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, is seeking to improve our understanding of the kidney's role in high blood pressure.