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Blood pressure after cardiac transplantation in childhood

John J O'Sullivan1, G Derrick, J Gray

  • 1Department of Paediatric Cardiology, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom. john.o'sullivan@nuthnorthy.nhs.uk

The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation : the Official Publication of the International Society for Heart Transplantation
|June 29, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Blood pressure (BP) is often elevated in children post-cardiac transplant, particularly nighttime systolic BP. Conventional BP measurements do not reliably predict 24-hour BP, indicating a need for further investigation and monitoring.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Transplantation Medicine
  • Hypertension Research

Background:

  • Limited formal research exists on blood pressure (BP) patterns in pediatric cardiac transplant recipients.
  • Understanding post-transplant hemodynamic changes is crucial for long-term patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess 24-hour and clinical blood pressure (BP) in children following cardiac transplantation.
  • To compare these BP measurements with normative data and identify potential predictors.

Main Methods:

  • Twenty-four-hour ambulatory and conventional clinical BP were measured in 28 pediatric cardiac transplant recipients.
  • Data were compared against a large dataset of normal BP values for age-matched controls.

Main Results:

  • Elevated conventional systolic BP (SBP) was observed in 32.1% and diastolic BP (DBP) in 17.8% of patients.
  • Mean 24-hour DBP was elevated in 28% of patients, and nighttime SBP was significantly higher (8.9 mm Hg) than in controls.
  • Conventional BP measurements poorly predicted 24-hour BP, while nighttime SBP elevation and DBP were linked to time since transplantation.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated diastolic BP in pediatric cardiac transplant recipients remains unexplained.
  • Nighttime systolic BP elevation is a significant finding with potential therapeutic implications and is not detected by standard clinical BP measurements.
Abstract

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