Genetic predisposition to hypertension facilitates blood pressure elevation in hemodialysis patients treated with erythropoietin.

PURPOSE

This study investigated the hypothesis that a genetic predisposition to hypertension is involved in the etiology of the elevation in blood pressure induced by human recombinant erythropoietin (rHuEPO).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Blood pressure changes after 10 weeks of treatment with rHuEPO were compared between 26 patients with a positive family history of hypertension and 27 with a negative family history.

RESULTS

Mean blood pressure was significantly increased in patients with a positive family history of hypertension (+8.8 mm Hg, p < 0.001). In contrast, the change was not significant in those whose family history was negative (+1.8 mm Hg, not significant). The mean blood pressure of 14 of 26 patients with a positive family history of hypertension increased by more than 10%, whereas such an increase occurred in only 2 of 27 patients with a negative family history (p < 0.001). The two groups were similar in terms of the total dose of rHuEPO given, the degree to which their anemia improved, and their basal blood pressures.

CONCLUSION

It appears that hemodialysis patients with a positive family history of hypertension are susceptible to developing hypertension during treatment with rHuEPO.