Background: Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibition has proven to be helpful in reducing cardiovascular and kidney disease progression in the general population; whether kidney transplant patients would derive similar benefits is unknown. RAS inhibition also reduces posttransplantation erythrocytosis in kidney transplant recipients, but its effect on hemoglobin (Hb) levels in patients without posttransplantation erythrocytosis is unclear. Methods: The Specific Management of Anemia and Hypertension in Renal Transplant (SMAhRT) recipients study was designed to examine the cardiovascular benefits of RAS blockade with telmisartan 80 mg versus placebo, and Hb management with darbepoetin α in a randomized, double-blind, single-center controlled trial in 2,000 patients over 3 years. The primary efficacy variable was a composite of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction or stroke. Results: The SMAhRT study was stopped prematurely due to a lower than expected event rate. At that point, 136 patients were enrolled and were followed for a mean duration of 15 months. The use of RAS blockade was not associated with an increased risk of adverse events such as worsening anemia or hyperkalemia. Likewise, the correction of Hb with darbepoetin was not associated with any increase in thrombotic events. Conclusions: This study provides insight into the safety of RAS inhibition and Hb correction with an erythrocyte-stimulating agent in kidney transplant recipients.
Thiazide and thiazide-like diuretics have been widely used as blood pressure-lowering agents for more than 5 decades. However, their use in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease has been limited and often discouraged. The exact mechanism of how thiazide and thiazide-like diuretics lower blood pressures is still in question. Emerging evidence suggests that thiazides and thiazide-like diuretics are effective as blood pressure-lowering drugs in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease. Review of the literature suggests that physicians should not discard thiazide and thiazide-like diuretics as options for blood pressure management in patients with chronic advanced kidney disease.
Hypertension is often difficult to control in patients with chronic kidney disease. Clinicians often view thiazide and thiazide-like diuretics as being ineffective in reducing blood pressure in patients with chronic kidney disease, and prefer to use loop diuretics, especially if the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is below 50 ml/min/1.73m(2). Recent clinical trial data indicate that thiazide and thiazide-like diuretics possess important and clinically significant antihypertension properties, that are likely independent of volume reduction, even in patients with eGFR in the 15-45 ml/min range. Thiazide and thiazide-like diuretics should be given consideration for use in the treatment of hypertension in patients with chronic kidney disease, especially if there is no clinical evidence of volume overload.
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