What is the effect of smoking on kidneys

Several years ago, scientists discovered that smoking worsens kidney damage in people who have medical problems that affect the kidneys -- such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Recently, scientists have also learned that men who smoke have poorer kidney function than nonsmoking men -- even if they have nothing else wrong with them. (Scientists have not found such a relationship in women -- at least, not yet.) Smoking may damage the kidneys by causing brief increases in blood pressure each time a person smokes a cigarette.