title: Apparent treatment-resistant hypertension and chronic kidney disease: another cardiovascular-renal syndrome?
abstract: To identify patients at increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) outcomes, apparent treatment-resistant hypertension (aTRH) is defined as having a blood pressure above goal despite the use of 3 or more antihypertensive therapies of different classes at maximally tolerated doses, ideally including a diuretic. Recent epidemiologic studies in selected populations estimated the prevalence of aTRH as 10% to 15% among patients with hypertension and that aTRH is associated with elevated risk of CV and renal outcomes. Additionally, aTRH and CKD are associated. Although the pathogenesis of aTRH is multifactorial, the kidney is believed to play a significant role. Increased volume expansion, aldosterone concentration, mineralocorticoid receptor activity, arterial stiffness, and sympathetic nervous system activity are central to the pathogenesis of aTRH and are targets of therapies. Although diuretics form the basis of therapy in aTRH, pathophysiologic and clinical data suggest an important role for aldosterone antagonism. Interventional techniques, such as renal denervation and carotid baroreceptor activation, modulate the sympathetic nervous system and are currently in phase III trials for the treatment of aTRH. These technologies are as yet unproven and have not been investigated in relationship to CV outcomes or in patients with CKD.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC; Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC. Electronic address: sqvster@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sreekanth
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vemulapalli
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC; Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC.
authors.forename: Crystal C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Tyson
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC; Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC.
authors.forename: Laura P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Svetkey
mesh_terms: D000450:Aldosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001810:Blood Volume; D059347:Cardio-Renal Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology; D003329:Coronary Vasospasm / Q000453:epidemiology; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011311:Pressoreceptors; D018161:Receptors, Mineralocorticoid / Q000378:metabolism; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System; D013562:Sympathectomy; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D004232:Diuretics; D018161:Receptors, Mineralocorticoid; D000450:Aldosterone
keywords: Aldosterone; Cardiovascular outcomes; Chronic kidney disease; Diuretic; Resistant hypertension