Intrarenal blood flow was measured by the 133Xe washout method in 22 patients with essential hypertension. Mean RBF, the percentage of flow in component I, and fraction of renal mass supplied by component I were significantly reduced in patients with proteinuria, severe nephrosclerosis, cardiomegaly, and retinal changes of Keith-Wagener III and IV. Flow rate in component I was also reduced in the patients with severe nephrosclerosis, retinal changes of Keith-Wagener III and IV, and proteinuria. We conclude that redistribution of intrarenal blood flow occurs in essential hypertension with renal, cardiac, and retinal complications.