Nephrosclerosis is a progressive condition in which a hardening of the kidney and damage to the renal arteries, veins, arterioles, glomeruli, renal tubules, and interstitial tissues occurs due to fibrous connective tissue (fibrosis) caused by kidney and vascular diseases or chronic high blood pressure (hypertension). Nephrosclerosis leads to the development of chronic kidney disease, eventually progressing to end-stage renal disease in some patients. Nephrosclerosis occurs more often in black individuals of African descent.