Captopril in Hpertension After Renal Transplantation

Abstract

The experience with captopril is limited in patients who are hypertensive after renal transplantation. An increased risk of side effects has been expected because of immunosuppressive therapy and a reduced renal function. We have used captopril in 58 transplanted patients with hypertension. On previous antihypertensive treatment diastolic blood pressure could not be maintained below 100 mm Hg. All patients were on immunosuppressive therapy using prednisolone in combination with azathioprine or cyclosporin. Before captopril went mean s-creatinine concentration was 225 ± 143 μmol/l. Fifty-four patients were treated for more than four weeks and 28 of them for six months or more. The mean daily dose captopril was 90 mg. All patients also used furosemide and 2/3 were on a beta-blocker. Captopril was discontinued in nine cases within the first two months, in three because of an unsatisfactory effect on BP, in four because of side effects and in two after successful treatment of a renal artery stenosis of the transplant. The Patients who were treated with captopril within the first year after transplantation responded better than patients where treatment was started more than one year after transplantation (p < 0.05). Half of the patients given captopril early even showed a decrease of s-creatinine during treatment.

Captopril in combination with a diuretic and a beta-blocker, reduces blood pressure in patients with treatment resistant hypertension following renal transplantation. The risk for serious side effects is small provided that the captopril dose is and white cell counts and s-creatinine levels are closely monitored.