[The treatment of renal hypertension with verapamil in childhood (author's transl]. / Die Behandlung der renalen Hypertension mit Verapamil im Kindesalter.

ABSTRACT

Twenty children with severe renal hypertension caused by renovacular lesions or chronic renal failure were treated with verapamil. The application of the drug as a single intravenous injection (0.1 mg/kg) during hypertensive crisis was followed by a drop of the systolic blood pressure which was highest 30 min after injection (--25% of the original value). In order to normalize the blood pressure during prolonged hypertensive crisis verapamil was used successfully as an intravenous infusion. For the long-term treatment of renal hypertension verapamil was given orally with success, alone or combined with other antihypertensive drugs. Verapamil has a lowering effect on the blood pressure even in the presence of advanced renal failure. Prolongation of atrioventricular conduction time is the most important side effect of the drug when given in high doses and, especially, when combined with digitalis.