Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review aims to highlight recent advances on the role of hyperbilirubinemia in hypertension and chronic kidney disease, with a focus on the pathophysiological mechanisms explaining the protective effects of bilirubin. An overview of pharmacologic induction of hyperbilirubinemia will also be discussed.
RECENT FINDINGS: The findings depict a protective role of bilirubin in the development of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Hyperbilirubinemia is also negatively correlated with the development and progression of chronic kidney disease. Commonly used drugs play a role in pharmacologic induction of hyperbilirubinemia. Bilirubin is therefore an exciting target for new therapeutic interventions for its antioxidant properties can be pivotal in the management of hypertension and in preventing and halting the progression of chronic kidney disease. Longitudinal studies are warranted to evaluate the prospective association between bilirubin levels and incident hypertension and chronic kidney disease in the general population. Interventions to induce hyperbilirubinemia need to be explored as a novel therapeutic approach in fighting disease burden.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 58 |
| Journal | Current Hypertension Reports |
| Volume | 19 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jul 2017 |
Keywords
- Antioxidants
- Bilirubin/blood
- Biomarkers/blood
- Disease Progression
- Humans
- Hyperbilirubinemia/blood
- Hypertension/blood
- Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/blood