Hypertension in the transplanted patient

Hypertension is a common finding after renal transplantation, and it has a variety of underlying mechanisms. One reason is the type of immunosuppressive therapy, with a higher prevalence of hypertension in cyclosporine-treated patients. Cyclosporine interferes with several humoral and neural systems which are involved in blood pressure regulation such as the renin-angiotensin system, endothelins, nitric oxide, prostaglandins and the sympathetic nervous system. Other pathomechanisms for posttransplant hypertension are uncontrolled renin secretion of the native kidneys, polycythemia, recurrence of renal disease in the graft and renal failure. Renal transplant artery stenosis is a potentially treatable cause of post-transplant hypertension and several techniques such MRT angiography, Doppler sonography and conventional angiography are available. The diagnosis and treatment of hypertension are of high importance in general for the transplanted patient, and especially for the long-term prognosis of graft function.