Frederick Akbar Mahomed (1849–1884) may justly be deemed the true discoverer of essential hypertension and the originator of the concept that high blood pressure could damage the kidneys and blood vessels. Grandson of an Indian immigrant and physician at Guy’s hospital, he unfortunately died of typhoid fever at the early age of 35. Using a rudimentary modification of Marey’s sphygmograph, he was able to measure blood pressure and carried out extensive studies, publishing a series of papers on “Bright’s Disease without Albuminuria.” He used the unfortunate title “Prealbuminuric Bright’s Disease,” partly out of reverence for Richard Bright, but also because he believed that all cases of nephritis went through a “prealbuminuric” phase.

Fall 2018  |  Sections  |  Nephrology & Hypertension