Isolated nocturnal hypertension in pediatric kidney transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Isolated nocturnal hypertension (INH) is defined as nighttime hypertension in the setting of normal daytime blood pressure (BP), diagnosed by ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM). METHODS AND RESULTS: Hypertension affects 60%-80% of pediatric kidney transplant recipients, and INH is the most common type of ambulatory hypertension. INH is associated with an increased prevalence of hypertension-mediated target organ damage such as left ventricular hypertrophy in adults and in pediatric kidney transplant recipients. CONCLUSION: Ambulatory BP monitoring should be performed annually in all pediatric kidney transplant recipients to diagnose hypertension phenotypes that are not detectable by office BP such as masked hypertension, white-coat hypertension, or INH. Isolated nocturnal hypertension in pediatric transplant patients requires study as a treatment target.