Circadian variability of blood pressure in liver transplant recipients without antihypertensive therapy.

Hypertension is a frequent cardiovascular risk factor in liver transplant recipients. The usefulness of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in these patients is unknown. This study was aimed at evaluating the circadian rhythms of blood pressure in liver allograft recipients. In 53 liver transplant patients blood pressure was measured with the Spacelabs device program. No patient received antihypertensive therapy for at least 15 days beforehand. Clinical blood pressure measurement showed 26 patients to be hypertensive. Of these, ABPM verified the diagnosis in 23. Overall, 72% of the patients were hypertensive, and 39.5% showed a nondipper pattern. Diastolic hypertension was more frequent than systolic hypertension. No differences were found in renal function, immunosuppressive therapy, or corticosteroids.