Prevalence and clinical characteristics of renal transplant patients with true resistant hypertension.

OBJECTIVE

Arterial hypertension is a prevalent complication that occurs in 75-90% of kidney-transplant recipients. Data about resistant arterial hypertension are scarce. The aim of this multicenter, cross-sectional, and observational study was to assess the prevalence and the clinical features of true resistant hypertension among renal-transplant patients.

METHODS

Eligible patients included hypertensive cadaveric kidney-transplant recipients aged below 70 years, with functioning kidney for at least 1 year, and with an estimated glomerular filtration rate at least 30 ml/min per 1.73 m and serum creatinine below 2.5 mg/dl. Recorded data included demographic characteristics, office blood pressure, and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and laboratory investigations. A total of 868 patients (mean age 53.2 ± 11.6 years) were included.

RESULTS

Mean systolic and diastolic office blood pressure was 140.2 ± 18 and 80.4 ± 10 mmHg, respectively. Mean 24-h ambulatory SBP and DBP was 131.5 ± 14 and 77.4 ± 8.7 mmHg and the prevalence of true resistant hypertension was 18.9%. Those with resistant hypertension were older and men, with a worse cardiovascular risk profile and history of cardiovascular disease. Apart from this, these patients had worse graft function and treatment with steroids.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study provides evidence about the prevalence of true resistant hypertension in renal-transplant patients. It also shows the very high cardiovascular risk of true resistant hypertension and the elevated association of this condition with renal failure, organ damage, and history of cardiovascular events.