Improved control of hypertension in children after renal transplantation: results of a two-yr interventional trial

Pediatr Transplant. 2007 Aug;11(5):491-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-3046.2006.00661.x.

Abstract

Hypertension is a frequent complication in children after renal transplantation and the control of post-transplant hypertension is unsatisfactorily low. The aim of this prospective interventional study was to improve the control of hypertension in children after renal transplantation. Thirty-six children fulfilled the inclusion criteria (> or =6 months after transplantation and no acute rejection in the last three months). BP was measured using ABPM. Hypertension was defined as mean ambulatory BP > or =95th-centile for healthy children and/or using antihypertensive drugs. The study intervention consisted of using intensified antihypertensive drug therapy - in children with uncontrolled hypertension (i.e., mean ambulatory BP was > or =95th centile in treated children), antihypertensive therapy was intensified by adding new antihypertensive drugs to reach goal BP <95th centile. ABPM was repeated after 12 and 24 months. Daytime BP did not change significantly after 12 or 24 months. Night-time BP decreased from 1.57 +/- 1.33 to 0.88 +/- 0.84 SDS for systolic and from 1.10 +/- 1.51 to 0.35 +/- 1.18 SDS for diastolic BP after 24 months (p < 0.05). The number of antihypertensive drugs increased from 2.1 +/- 0.9 to 2.7 +/- 0.8 drugs per patient (p < 0.05), this was especially seen with the use of ACE-inhibitors (increase from 19% to 40% of children, p < 0.05). In conclusion, this interventional trial demonstrated that, in children after renal transplantation, the control of hypertension, especially at night-time, can be improved by increasing the number of antihypertensive drugs, especially ACE-inhibitors.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Antihypertensive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects
  • Blood Pressure / physiology*
  • Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Circadian Rhythm
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / drug therapy*
  • Hypertension / etiology
  • Hypertension / physiopathology
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / surgery
  • Kidney Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antihypertensive Agents