Hypertension in a pediatric and adolescent population following kidney transplantation

The post-renal transplant courses of 53 children and adolescents were evaluated for the prevalence and the etiology of hypertension. The blood pressures were averaged over specific time periods following transplantation and converted to percentile ranks according to standards for age. The number of antihypertensives employed to control blood pressure was assessed. Factors such as sex, obesity, race, donor source, antigen match, steroid administration, rejection, recurrent glomerulonephritis, pre-transplant nephrectomy, renal function and proteinuria were assessed as to their importance in producing hypertension or normotension in the post-transplant period. The average blood pressure was well within acceptable range shortly after transplantation. The patients requiring antihypertensives to control blood pressure dropped by two years post transplant. Chronic rejection was by far the most important factor influencing average blood pressure and the need to employ antihypertensives. Alternate-day prednisone and good graft function were important in establishing the normotensive state.