A Case of Hypokalemia Caused by Left Native Renal Artery Stenosis in a Kidney Transplant Recipient.

A 39-year-old woman with end-stage renal failure of unknown origin was on peritoneal dialysis for 10 years. One year ago, she underwent ABO-incompatible living-donor kidney transplantation from her husband. After the kidney transplantation, her serum creatinine level remained around 0.7 mg/dL, but her serum potassium level remained low at around 3.5 mEq/L despite potassium supplementation and spironolactone. The patient's plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) were markedly elevated (20 ng/mL/h and 868 pg/mL, respectively). A CT angiogram of the abdomen performed 1 year previously suggested stenosis of the left native renal artery, which was considered responsible for the hypokalemia. Renal venous sampling was done on both the native kidneys and the transplanted kidney. Since renin secretion from the left native kidney was significantly elevated, a laparoscopic left nephrectomy was performed. Postoperatively, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system was markedly improved (PRA: 6.4 ng/mL/h, PAC: 147.3 pg/mL), and the serum potassium levels also improved. Pathological examination of the removed kidney showed many atubular glomeruli and hyperplasia of the juxtaglomerular apparatus (JGA) in residual glomeruli. In addition, renin staining showed strong positivity in the JGA of these glomeruli. Here, we report a case of hypokalemia caused by left native renal artery stenosis in a kidney transplant recipient. This valuable case study provides histological confirmation of maintained renin secretion in an abandoned native kidney after kidney transplantation.

Utilization of Carbon Dioxide Angiography and Percutaneous Balloon Angioplasty for Treatment of Transplant Renal Artery Stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Transplant renal artery stenosis (TRAS) may lead to graft dysfunction and failure. Progressive deterioration of renal allograft function may be exacerbated by contrast-induced nephrotoxicity during iodine contrast administration for renovascular imaging of allografts. We present our institutional experience of endovascular management for TRAS using CO2 digital subtraction angiography (CO2-DSA) and balloon angioplasty to manage failing renal transplants. METHODS: Four patients with renal allografts from March 2017-May 2018 were referred for graft dysfunction and pending renal transplant failure. Indications for referral included refractory hypertension, decreasing renal functioning, and elevated renovascular systolic velocities. RESULTS: Median age of the four patients was 41.5 years (22-60 years). There were two male and female patients. Chronic hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus were the most common comorbidities. An average total of 75 mL of CO2 was used, supplemented with 17.4 mL of iodinated contrast. All patients had improvements in renal function following intervention with a mean decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure of 25.8% and 21.4%, respectively. We also observed a mean decrease of BUN by 13.6% and creatinine by 37.4%. Additionally, eGFR increased by 37.7%. All allografts survived after surgery, and only one patient required repeat angioplasty for recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: CO2-DSA with balloon angioplasty can be successfully utilized to salvage deteriorating kidney allograft function in patients with TRAS.

Unilateral renal artery stenosis presenting as acute flaccid paralysis: a rare presentation.

Renovascular hypertension is one of the common causes of secondary hypertension. Here we report a case of patient of renal artery stenosis presenting to the emergency department as a case of acute flaccid paralysis. Renal artery stenosis has been associated with hypokalaemia, but rarely reported to be symptomatic. Initial correction of hypokalaemia leads to improvement of weakness and aetiological work up for hypokalaemia with hypertension revealed hypokalaemia due to hyperaldosteronism secondary to unilateral renal artery stenosis. The patient was managed medically with aldosterone antagonist in the anti hypertensive therapy and weakness did not recur despite withdrawal of potassium supplements. On follow-up, the patient was ambulatory with no signs of weakness, controlled blood pressure and normal potassium level.

Revascularization of atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis for chronic heart failure versus acute pulmonary oedema.

AIM: The aim of the study is to determine whether the apparent benefit of revascularization of renal artery stenosis for 'flash' pulmonary oedema extends to heart failure patients without a history of prior acute pulmonary oedema. METHODS: A prospective study of patients with renal artery stenosis and heart failure at a single centre between 1 January 1995 and 31 December 2010. Patients were divided into those with and without previous acute pulmonary oedema/decompensation. Survival analysis compared revascularization versus medical therapy in each group using Cox regression adjusted for age, estimated glomerular filtration rate, blood pressure and co-morbidities. RESULTS: There were 152 patients: 59% male, 36% diabetic, age 70 ± 9 years, estimated glomerular filtration rate 29 ± 17 mL/min per 1.73 m2 ; 52 had experienced previous acute pulmonary oedema (34%), whereas 100 had no previous acute pulmonary oedema (66%). The revascularization rate was 31% in both groups. For heart failure without previous acute pulmonary oedema, the hazard ratio for death after revascularization compared with medical therapy was 0.76 (0.58-0.99, P = 0.04). In heart failure with previous acute pulmonary enema, the hazard ratio was 0.73 (0.44-1.21, P = 0.22). For those without previous acute pulmonary oedema, the hazard ratio for heart failure hospitalization after revascularization compared with medical therapy was 1.00 (0.17-6.05, P = 1.00). In those with previous acute pulmonary oedema, it was 0.51 (0.08-3.30, P = 0.48). CONCLUSION: The benefit of revascularization in heart failure may extend beyond the current indication of acute pulmonary oedema. However, findings derive from an observational study.

Abordagem percutânea das doenças da artéria renal / Percutaneous approach to renal artery disease

A estenose da artéria renal (EAR) é uma importante causa de hipertensão arterial sistêmica (HAS) secundária e disfunção renal. O principal mecanismo é por doença aterosclerótica unilateral ou bilateral. O diagnóstico precoce é importante para se evitar falência renal terminal e graves complicações cardiovasculares. O início de HAS precoce ou tardia, sopros abdominais, déficit renal sem causa aparente e HAS resistente são achados clínicos para se suspeitar de EAR, sendo necessários exames complementares como o Doppler colorido, angiotomografia ou ressonância nuclear magnética das artérias renais. A arteriografia renal é o padrão ouro para confirmação diagnóstica. O tratamento medicamentoso está indicado para os pacientes assintomáticos ou que mantêm controle clínico satisfatórios. A intervenção percutânea da artéria renal com uso de stents tem sido motivo de controvérsia, ficando restrita aos pacientes com perda progressiva da função renal e estenose bilateral, hipertensão arterial resistente ao tratamento medicamentoso, edema agudo de pulmão hipertensivo de repetição e disfunção de enxerto renal no caso de pacientes submetidos ao transplante renal

Renal artery stenosis (RAS) is an important cause of secondary systemic hypertension and renal dysfunction. The main mechanism is unilateral or bilateral atherosclerotic disease. Early diagnosis is important to avoid terminal renal failure and severe cardiovascular complications. The onset of early or late secondary systemic hypertension, abdominal murmurs, renal failure without apparent cause, and resistant secondary systemic hypertension are clinical findings to suspect RAS, and complementary exams such as color Doppler, angiotomography or magnetic nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of the renal arteries are necessary. Renal arteriography is the gold standard for diagnostic confirmation. Drug treatment is indicated for patients who are asymptomatic or who maintain satisfactory clinical control. Percutaneous renal artery intervention with stents has been controversial, being restricted to patients with progressive renal function loss and bilateral stenosis, drug-resistant hypertension, acute repetitive hypertensive pulmonary edema and renal graft dysfunction in patients submitted to kidney transplant

[Cardiogenic shock due to spontaneous neonatal thrombosis of the abdominal aorta]. / Choc cardiogénique dû à une thrombose spontanée néonatale de l'aorte abdominale.

Neonatal arterial thrombosis is unusual and generally associated with an arterial umbilical catheter. Spontaneous aortic thrombosis is exceptional but its severity is related to high mortality rate and renovascular morbidity. We report here the observation of a 10-day-old term infant showing a large abdominal aortic thrombosis revealed by cardiogenic shock induced by systemic arterial hypertension. The resolution was fast following anticoagulant and antihypertensive therapy. Etiologic investigations showed renal failure and moderate hyperhomocysteinemia controlled by a vitamin supplement. Following this observation, we did a brief review of the neonatal spontaneous arterial thrombosis literature to discuss the neonatal hemostasis specific aspects. Management of infants presenting an arterial thrombosis varies depending on the hospital and there are no guidelines at this time concerning the etiologic investigation and treatment in France or internationally.

Paradigm Shifts in Atherosclerotic Renovascular Disease: Where Are We Now?

Results of recent clinical trials and experimental studies indicate that whereas atherosclerotic renovascular disease can accelerate both systemic hypertension and tissue injury in the poststenotic kidney, restoring vessel patency alone is insufficient to recover kidney function for most subjects. Kidney injury in atherosclerotic renovascular disease reflects complex interactions among vascular rarefication, oxidative stress injury, and recruitment of inflammatory cellular elements that ultimately produce fibrosis. Classic paradigms for simply restoring blood flow are shifting to implementation of therapy targeting mitochondria and cell-based functions to allow regeneration of vascular, glomerular, and tubular structures sufficient to recover, or at least stabilize, renal function. These developments offer exciting possibilities of repair and regeneration of kidney tissue that may limit progressive CKD in atherosclerotic renovascular disease and may apply to other conditions in which inflammatory injury is a major common pathway.

Effect of Huanshuai Recipe Oral Liquid ([characters: see text]) on renal dysfunction progression in patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Huanshuai Recipe Oral Liquid ([characters: see text], HSR) on retarding the progression of renal dysfunction in patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS). METHODS: A total of 52 ARAS patients with the Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome of qi deficiency and blood stasis, phlegm and dampness retention were recruited and randomly assigned into the treatment group (36 cases) and the control group (16 cases). Both groups received a basic treatment (high-quality low-protein diet, blood pressure control, lipid-lowering, correcting the acidosis, etc.). In addition, the treatment group received 20 mL HSR and the control group received placebo, 3 times a day for 6 months. Renal function (serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and uric acid) and blood lipids (cholesterol, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein) were examined monthly. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and CM syndrome score were compared between groups. RESULTS: After treatment, compared with the control group, the serum creatinine level, uric acid level and CM syndrome score of the treatment group were significantly decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the eGFR in the treatment group were significantly increased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: HSR can effectively improve the renal function and clinical symptoms of ARAS patients.

Effect of Huanshuai Recipe Oral Liquid (characters: see text) on renal dysfunction progression in patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of Huanshuai Recipe Oral Liquid ([characters: see text], HSR) on retarding the progression of renal dysfunction in patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 52 ARAS patients with the Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome of qi deficiency and blood stasis, phlegm and dampness retention were recruited and randomly assigned into the treatment group (36 cases) and the control group (16 cases). Both groups received a basic treatment (high-quality low-protein diet, blood pressure control, lipid-lowering, correcting the acidosis, etc.). In addition, the treatment group received 20 mL HSR and the control group received placebo, 3 times a day for 6 months. Renal function (serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and uric acid) and blood lipids (cholesterol, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein) were examined monthly. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and CM syndrome score were compared between groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment, compared with the control group, the serum creatinine level, uric acid level and CM syndrome score of the treatment group were significantly decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the eGFR in the treatment group were significantly increased (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HSR can effectively improve the renal function and clinical symptoms of ARAS patients.</p>

Mesenchymal stem cells improve medullary inflammation and fibrosis after revascularization of swine atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis.

Atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS) raises blood pressure and can reduce kidney function. Revascularization of the stenotic renal artery alone does not restore renal medullary structure and function. This study tested the hypothesis that addition of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) to percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) can restore stenotic-kidney medullary tubular transport function and attenuate its remodeling. Twenty-seven swine were divided into three ARAS (high-cholesterol diet and renal artery stenosis) and a normal control group. Six weeks after ARAS induction, two groups were treated with PTRA alone or PTRA supplemented with adipose-tissue-derived MSC (10 × 10(6) cells intra-renal). Multi-detector computed tomography and blood-oxygenation-level-dependent (BOLD) MRI studies were performed 4 weeks later to assess kidney hemodynamics and function, and tissue collected a few days later for histology and micro-CT imaging. PTRA effectively decreased blood pressure, yet medullary vascular density remained low. Addition of MSC improved medullary vascularization in ARAS+PTRA+MSC and increased angiogenic signaling, including protein expression of vascular endothelial growth-factor, its receptor (FLK-1), and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α. ARAS+PTRA+MSC also showed attenuated inflammation, although oxidative-stress remained elevated. BOLD-MRI indicated that MSC normalized oxygen-dependent tubular response to furosemide (-4.3 ± 0.9, -0.1 ± 0.4, -1.6 ± 0.9 and -3.6 ± 1.0 s(-1) in Normal, ARAS, ARAS+PTRA and ARAS+PTRA+MSC, respectively, p<0.05), which correlated with a decrease in medullary tubular injury score (R(2) = 0.33, p = 0.02). Therefore, adjunctive MSC delivery in addition to PTRA reduces inflammation, fibrogenesis and vascular remodeling, and restores oxygen-dependent tubular function in the stenotic-kidney medulla, although additional interventions might be required to reduce oxidative-stress. This study supports development of cell-based strategies for renal protection in ARAS.

Interventional treatment of hypertension: a new paradigm.

Hypertension is thought to contribute to more than 7 million deaths worldwide each year and contributes to the development of atherosclerotic lesions that lead to myocardial infarction and stroke. While lifestyle modifications (diet, exercise, weight loss) and pharmacotherapy have been proven to be effective in the treatment of hypertension, as many as half of patients have uncontrolled BP and remain at risk for elevated cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The main physiologic targets for interventional treatment include alteration of blood flow to the kidney, activation of the carotid baroreflex system, and modification of the renal sympathetic nervous system. The results of prior studies and new studies of interventional treatments of resistant hypertension are covered in this review.

Renoprotective effects of hepatocyte growth factor in the stenotic kidney.

Renal microvascular (MV) damage and loss contribute to the progression of renal injury in renal artery stenosis (RAS). Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a powerful angiogenic and antifibrotic cytokine that we showed to be decreased in the stenotic kidney. We hypothesized that renal HGF therapy will improve renal function mainly by protecting the renal microcirculation. Unilateral RAS was induced in 15 pigs. Six weeks later, single-kidney RBF and GFR were quantified in vivo using multidetector computed tomography (CT). Then, intrarenal rh-HGF or vehicle was randomly administered into the stenotic kidney (RAS, n = 8; RAS+HGF, n = 7). Pigs were observed for 4 additional weeks before CT studies were repeated. Renal MV density was quantified by 3D micro-CT ex vivo and histology, and expression of angiogenic and inflammatory factors, apoptosis, and fibrosis was determined. HGF therapy improved RBF and GFR compared with vehicle-treated pigs. This was accompanied by improved renal expression of angiogenic cytokines (VEGF, p-Akt) and tissue-healing promoters (SDF-1, CXCR4, MMP-9), reduced MV remodeling, apoptosis, and fibrosis, and attenuated renal inflammation. However, HGF therapy did not improve renal MV density, which was similarly reduced in RAS and RAS+HGF compared with controls. Using a clinically relevant animal model of RAS, we showed novel therapeutic effects of a targeted renal intervention. Our results show distinct actions on the existing renal microcirculation and promising renoprotective effects of HGF therapy in RAS. Furthermore, these effects imply plasticity of the stenotic kidney to recuperate its function and underscore the importance of MV integrity in the progression of renal injury in RAS.

Long-term safety and efficacy of renin-angiotensin blockade in atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis.

PURPOSE: The activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system caused by renal ischaemia in atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS) may be responsible for serious cardiovascular and renal consequences. The aim of the study was to assess the long-term safety, tolerability and outcomes of the use of angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEis) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) in patients with ARAS. METHODS: Thirty-six patients with angiographically defined ARAS (managed either with revascularization or only with medical treatment) were prospectively assessed for the safety, tolerability and outcomes of the use of ACEis or ARBs. RESULTS: The mean period of follow-up was 88.9 ± 37.8 months. A statistically significant reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure was recorded over time (P < 0.001). While estimated glomerular filtration rate remained almost stable during the study period (0.816), nuclear EDTA-GFR showed a significant reduction over time (P = 0.03). Mean time from diagnosis/intervention to end-stage renal disease for the cohort of 36 patients was 165.38 ± 13.62 months. Mean overall patient survival was 135.36 ± 15.25 months, with fourteen deaths (38.8%) occurring during the observational period. ACEi/ARB therapy was discontinued transiently in only 4 subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The use of ACEis/ARBs is safe and effective in patients with ARAS independently of any parameters.

Renal artery stenosis in kidney transplants: assessment of the risk factors.

BACKGROUND: Transplant renal artery stenosis (TRAS) is an important cause of hypertension and renal allograft dysfunction occurring in kidney transplant recipients. However, conflicting predisposing risk factors for TRAS have been reported in the literature. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to assess the potential correlation between possible risk factors and TRAS in a group of living donor renal transplant recipients 1 year after the renal transplantation. METHODS: We evaluated the presence of renal artery stenosis in 16 recipients who presented with refractory hypertension and/or allograft dysfunction 1 year after renal transplantation. Screening for TRAS was made by magnetic resonance angiography and diagnosis was confirmed by conventional renal angiography. Age, gender, history of acute rejection, plasma lipid profile, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, serum uric acid, calcium phosphate (CaPO4) product, alkaline phosphatase, fasting blood sugar, hemoglobin, and albumin were compared between the TRAS and non-TRAS groups. RESULTS: Of 16 kidney transplant recipients, TRAS was diagnosed in three patients (two men and one woman). High levels of calcium, phosphorous, CaPO4 product, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol were significantly correlated with the risk of TRAS 1 year after renal transplantation (P < 0.05). Serum level of uric acid tended to have a significant correlation (P = 0.051). CONCLUSION: Correlation between high CaPO4 product, LDL cholesterol, and perhaps uric acid and TRAS in living donor renal transplant recipients 1 year after renal transplantation might suggest the importance of early detection and tight control of these potential risk factors.

Water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol microspheres for temporary embolization: development and in vivo characteristics in a pig kidney model.

PURPOSE: To preliminarily examine whether solubility of water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) microspheres in blood plasma changes in proportion to their degrees of saponification. The study also examined their feasibility as a temporary embolic agents in the pig renal artery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three types of PVA microspheres with the degrees of saponification of 97 mol% (S97), 98 mol% (S98), and 99 mol% (S99) were prepared. Seven kidneys in seven miniature pigs were embolized and divided into three groups so there would be at least two kidneys for each type of PVA. One animal in each group was euthanized immediately after angiography at 3 hours after embolization and the other one at 7 days after. In addition, one animal embolized with S99 microspheres was euthanized at 21 days after embolization. RESULTS: With S97 microspheres, the vascular network had recovered to the preembolic state by 3 hours after embolization. With S98 microspheres, blood flow in the third-order branch had been restored in the same period. With S99 microspheres, the second- and lower order branches remained occluded until 21 days. Histopathologic specimens harvested at 3 hours revealed only a trace of PVA for S97 microspheres. With S98 microspheres, the vascular lumen was still found to be filled with PVA gel. With S99 microspheres, swollen microspheres densely filled the vascular lumen even on day 21. CONCLUSIONS: Dissolution process in vitro and the duration of arterial occlusion in vivo were possibly related to the degree of saponification of PVA. This result may support feasibility of PVA microspheres as a temporary embolic agent.

Glomerular filtration rate measured by (51)Cr-EDTA clearance: Evaluation of captopril-induced changes in hypertensive patients with and without renal artery stenosis.

INTRODUCTION: Renal artery stenosis can lead to renovascular hypertension; however, the detection of stenosis alone does not guarantee the presence of renovascular hypertension. Renovascular hypertension depends on activation of the renin-angiotensin system, which can be detected by functional tests such as captopril renal scintigraphy. A method that allows direct measurement of the baseline and post-captopril glomerular filtration rate using chromium-51 labeled ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid ((51)Cr-EDTA) could add valuable information to the investigation of hypertensive patients with renal artery stenosis. The purposes of this study were to create a protocol to measure the baseline and post-captopril glomerular filtration rate using (51)Cr-EDTA, and to verify whether changes in the glomerular filtration rate permit differentiation between hypertensive patients with and without renal artery stenosis. METHODS: This prospective study included 41 consecutive patients with poorly controlled severe hypertension. All patients had undergone a radiological investigation of renal artery stenosis within the month prior to their inclusion. The patients were divided into two groups: patients with (n=21) and without renal artery stenosis, (n=20). In vitro glomerular filtration rate analysis ((51)Cr-EDTA) and (99m)Tc-DMSA scintigraphy were performed before and after captopril administration in all patients. RESULTS: The mean baseline glomerular filtration rate was 48.6+/-21.8 ml/kg/1.73 m(2) in the group wuth renal artery stenosis, which was significantly lower than the GFR of 65.1+/-28.7 ml/kg/1.73m(2) in the group without renal artery stenosis (p=0.04). Captopril induced a significant reduction of the glomerular filtration rate in the group with renal artery stenosis (to 32.6+/-14.8 ml/ kg/1.73m(2), p=0.001) and an insignificant change in the group without RAS (to 62.2+/-23.6 ml/kg/1.73m(2), p=0.68). Scintigraphy with technetium-99m dimercapto-succinic acid (DMSA) did not show significant differences in differential renal function from baseline to post-captopril images in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Captopril induced a decrease in the GFR that could be quantitatively measured with (51)Cr-EDTA. The reduction is more pronounced in hypertensive patients with RAS.

Glomerular filtration rate measured by 51Cr-EDTA clearance: evaluation of captopril-induced changes in hypertensive patients with and without renal artery stenosis

INTRODUCTION: Renal artery stenosis can lead to renovascular hypertension; however, the detection of stenosis alone does not guarantee the presence of renovascular hypertension. Renovascular hypertension depends on activation of the renin-angiotensin system, which can be detected by functional tests such as captopril renal scintigraphy. A method that allows direct measurement of the baseline and post-captopril glomerular filtration rate using chromium-51 labeled ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (51Cr-EDTA) could add valuable information to the investigation of hypertensive patients with renal artery stenosis. The purposes of this study were to create a protocol to measure the baseline and post-captopril glomerular filtration rate using 51Cr-EDTA, and to verify whether changes in the glomerular filtration rate permit differentiation between hypertensive patients with and without renal artery stenosis. METHODS: This prospective study included 41 consecutive patients with poorly controlled severe hypertension. All patients had undergone a radiological investigation of renal artery stenosis within the month prior to their inclusion. The patients were divided into two groups: patients with (n=21) and without renal artery stenosis, (n=20). In vitro glomerular filtration rate analysis (51Cr-EDTA) and 99mTc-DMSA scintigraphy were performed before and after captopril administration in all patients. RESULTS: The mean baseline glomerular filtration rate was 48.6±21.8 ml/kg/1.73 m² in the group wuth renal artery stenosis, which was significantly lower than the GFR of 65.1±28.7 ml/kg/1.73m² in the group without renal artery stenosis (p=0.04). Captopril induced a significant reduction of the glomerular filtration rate in the group with renal artery stenosis (to 32.6±14.8 ml/kg/1.73m², p=0.001) and an insignificant change in the group without RAS (to 62.2±23.6 ml/kg/1.73m², p=0.68). Scintigraphy with technetium-99m dimercapto-succinic acid (DMSA) did...

Treatment of resistant hypertension.

AIM: Resistant hypertension (RH) is a common clinical problem. Patients with RH have increased cardiovascular risk. These patients also have high risk for having reversible causes of hypertension and may potentially benefit from special diagnostic or therapeutic considerations. The purpose of this review was to discuss RH, its definition, recognition, evaluation and treatment. METHODS: Authors define RH and the implications of this definition. They present latest data on its prevalence, prognostic implications, genetics, and patient characteristics. Elements of pseudoresistance and possible etiologies of treatment resistance are also identified. Lastly, diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to RH are discussed, focusing on antihypertensive medication classes that have proven benefit in patients with RH, and also on novel therapeutic approaches in these patients. CONCLUSION: RH is a common clinical problem and carries an increased risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, as well as target organ damage. Patients with RH are aat high risk for reversible causes of hypertension and may benefit from special diagnostic or therapeutic considerations. Elements of pseudoresistance, intake of interfering substances and secondary causes of hypertension should be searched for and corrected, if possible. Therapeutic lifestyle modifications should be emphasized. Medical therapy includes optimizing diuretic use and considering the use of mineralocorticoid antagonists as add on antihypertensive agents. Novel approaches include surgical and transcatheter techniques, chronotherapy, and new classes of antihypertensive agents.