Is there a common mechanism for the progression of different types of renal diseases other than proteinuria? Towards the unifying theme of chronic hypoxia.

ABSTRACT

The question of why chronic renal diseases progress is a topic only recently investigated. Putative causes such as proteinuria do not account for all aspects of progressive renal disease. An alternative mechanism, chronic hypoxia, is proposed that might better explain certain elements of progressive renal disease, but elements of the hypothesis remain subject to further study.