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The management of hypertensive emergencies in children after stem cell transplantation
D G Horn1, M N Trame, G Hempel
1Department of Pharmaceutical and Medical Chemistry, Clinical Pharmacy, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
Insights
Treatment for pediatric hypertensive emergencies, especially post-stem cell transplant, lacks robust clinical trials. Current practices rely on physician experience, with nicardipine as a potential first choice despite limited pediatric data.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nephrology
- Pharmacology
- Hematology/Oncology
Background:
- Hypertensive emergencies in children, particularly after stem cell transplantation, often stem from calcineurin inhibitor use.
- These emergencies necessitate prompt intervention to prevent end-organ damage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review available data on drugs for pediatric hypertensive emergencies.
- To focus on treatment strategies following stem cell transplantation.
Main Methods:
- Literature search using MEDLINE and PubMed.
- Keywords included: hypertensive emergencies, nifedipine, nicardipine, children.
- Cross-referencing of identified articles and books.
Main Results:
- Pediatric use of hypotensive agents is largely experience-based, not trial-driven.
- Calcium channel blockers may offer benefits due to mechanism and potential nephroprotection.
- Intravenous nifedipine use in children is questionable due to side effects and limited data; nicardipine is a preferred agent but lacks adequate pediatric safety data.
Conclusions:
- Current treatment for pediatric hypertensive emergencies lacks strong scientific evidence.
- Treatment choices should consider drug properties, side effects, limited experience, and patient history.
Aim Of The Review:
This work presents a short overview on the available data about drugs that are currently used to treat hypertensive emergencies in children with a focus on incidents after stem cell transplantation. It shows that the pediatric use of all hypotensive agents appears to be mainly based on personal experience of the attending physicians rather than on convincing clinical trials.
Method:
A literature search was performed in MEDLINE, through PubMed, using the medical subject headings (MeSH) hypertensive emergencies, nifedipine, nicardipine, and children. Further articles were identified by checking cross-references of articles and books.
Results:
Hypertensive emergencies in children after stem cell transplantation usually have a renal etiology, because of the treatment with the calcineurin inhibitors cyclosporine and tacrolimus. In these severe cases an immediate action is necessary to avoid possible appearance or exacerbation of endorgan damage. Because of their mechanism of action and a potential nephroprotective effect calcium channel blockers may be particularly suitable in cases of hypertensive emergencies. An intravenous application of nifedipine may compensate the difficulties of accurate dosing, but keeping in mind possible severe side effects and the lack of published experience its use in children is at least questionable. Nicardipine appears to be the hypotensive agent of first choice. In adults, the treatment of hypertensive emergencies with intravenous nicardipine is well-documented, but for an evaluation of safety in pediatric use, the published studies and case reports appear to be barely adequate.
Conclusion:
The actual treatment approaches vary widely, demonstrating the lack of hard science on which current treatment of hypertensive emergencies in children is based. The hypotensive agent for the individual situation should be chosen considering the properties, side effects, the limited experiences with its use and the patient's anamnesis.
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