Role of Antihypertensives in End-Stage Renal Disease: A Systematic Review

Cureus. 2022 Jul 20;14(7):e27058. doi: 10.7759/cureus.27058. eCollection 2022 Jul.

Abstract

The primary goal of this research is to identify the factors of intradialytic hypertension in hemodialysis patients and stabilize blood pressure (BP) even without antihypertensive medicines. There are various treatment alternatives for lowering BP in these patients, many of which do not require extra pharmacological therapy (e.g. long, slow hemodialysis; short, daily hemodialysis; nocturnal hemodialysis; or, most effectively, dietary salt and fluid restriction in addition to the reduction of dialysate sodium concentration). These parameters provide good monitoring of BP, even with previously diagnosed hypertension. The adjustment of the extracellular volume with a low incidence of intradialytic hypotensive episodes is the most plausible explanation for this outcome. We did a systematic evaluation of all published articles since 1994 to evaluate antihypertensive drug outcomes in hemodialysis patients. All articles were searched in the English language using PubMed and Google Scholar databases. The screening techniques, study selection, data extraction procedures, and risk evaluation of bias were done using specified criteria and overseen by one of the senior writers with the application of quality assessment tools to the final articles. Data were searched using regular and MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) keywords. Although substantial developments have emerged in the medical field, there is still a significant knowledge gap in the sector, particularly when it comes to BP guidelines and therapy choices for hypertensive hemodialysis patients. Until additional data are available, we should treat hypertension in hemodialysis with the use of active pursuit of euvolemia using dry weight probing and reduction of salt excess.

Keywords: antihypertensive drugs; chronic renal failure; dialysis; hemodialysis; renal insufficiency.

Publication types

  • Review