Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers used for the treatment of hypertension appear to be safe in the early posttransplant period.
Angiotensin II converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) are frequently avoided as treatment for hypertension in the early posttransplant period (0 to 90 days) for fear of nephrotoxicity. The following retrospective study was designed to explore the safety of these drugs in the early posttransplant period and determine appropriate clinical criteria for starting these medications. The records of all adult renal transplants performed between January 1997 and December 2000 (N = 290) were reviewed. All patients started on ACE or ARB for treatment of hypertension within 90 days of their transplant were included in the analysis (n = 17). Controls (n = 19) were patients who were treated with a calcium channel blocker (CCB) for hypertension. Cases and controls were matched for gender and type of transplant, living or cadaver. Patients were considered to be enrolled whey they met the following criteria: hypertension, serum creatinine < or =3.0 mg/dL, or falling 1 mg/dL/d and serum potassium < or =5.5 mEq/L. Exclusion criteria were coexistent pancreas transplant, anaphylaxis to ACE, and use of ACE or ARB for treatment of posttransplant erythrocytosis. There were no differences between cases and controls in hemoglobin or serum potassium concentrations or calculated glomerular filtration rate at 3, 6, and 9 months. In renal transplant patients with reasonable allograft function, administration of ACE and ARB to treat hypertension in the early posttransplant period appears to be well tolerated and not associated with excess hyperkalemia, anemia, or acute renal dysfunction.
Formica
R N
RN
Department of Medicine, Section of Nephrology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8029, USA. richard.formica@yale.edu
Friedman
A L
AL
Lorber
M I
MI
Bia
M J
MJ
D057912:Angiotensin II Type 2 Receptor Blockers; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012449:Safety; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
D057912:Angiotensin II Type 2 Receptor Blockers; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D011188:Potassium