title: Blood pressure, antihypertensive treatment, and graft survival in kidney transplant patients.
abstract: Whether the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker inhibitor (ACEI/ARB) is beneficial in renal transplant recipients remains controversial. In this retrospective study on 505 renal transplant recipients, we analyzed blood pressure and graft survival according to antihypertensive treatment with ACE-I/ARB and/or calcium channel blockers (CCB) over a period of 10 years. Patients were stratified according to their blood pressure 1 year after transplantation [controlled (<or=130/80 mmHg; CTR, 181 patients) and noncontrolled (>130/80 mmHg; non-CTR, 324 patients)] and according to antihypertensive treatment (ACE-I/ARB and/or CCB taken for at least 2 years). One year after transplantation, 88.4% of CTR and 96.6% of non-CTR received antihypertensive treatment (P < 0.05). Graft survival was longer in CTR than in non-CTR (P < 0.05). Importantly, graft survival was longer in patients who received long-term treatment with ACEI/ARB, CCB, or a combination of ACEI/ARB and CCB (P < 0.001). The beneficial effect of ACEI/ARB therapy was more pronounced in non-CTR compared with that of CTR. We conclude that blood pressure control is a key target for long-term graft survival in renal transplant patients. Long-term ACEI/ARB and CCB therapy is beneficial for graft survival, especially in patients with diabetes and/or albuminuria.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik D, Universitätsklinikum Münster, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Uta
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hillebrand
authors.forename: Barbara M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Suwelack
authors.forename: Karsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Loley
authors.forename: Detlef
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reuter
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amler
authors.forename: Hermann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pavenstädt
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hausberg
authors.forename: Eckhart
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Büssemaker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents