title: Traditional drug therapy of hypertension in transplant recipients.
abstract: Hypertension is a very common condition among recipients of transplanted organs, and is often related to immunosuppressive therapy. In many transplant centres, calcium antagonists are often used as first-line antihypertensive drug therapy, not only because of efficacy in lowering blood pressure, but also because certain members of the class have a 'beneficial' drug-drug interaction with cyclosporin, which decreases the cost of administering this very expensive immunosuppressant. Diuretics are often used both for blood pressure and volume control, and some centres have used either alpha-beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and even beta-blockers with success in certain patients. The high frequency of perceived adverse effects of antihypertensive drugs in transplant recipients and the diversity of training of the specialist physicians involved in their care makes choice of traditional antihypertensive drug therapy in these patients a major challenge.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Elliott
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D016377:Organ Transplantation; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004232:Diuretics