Hypertension in dialysis patients: a consensus document by the European Renal and Cardiovascular Medicine (EURECA-m) working group of the European Renal Association - European Dialysis and Transplant Association (ERA-EDTA) and the Hypertension and the Kidney working group of the European Society of Hypertension (ESH)

Hypertension management in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease with and without dialysis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Hypertension is a common comorbidity in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) on dialysis, contributing significantly to cardiovascular disease and increased mortality. Managing hypertension in this population is complex due to the frequent occurrence of resistant hypertension. This review highlights the recent updates in hypertension management for these patients, especially considering new guidelines and therapeutic options.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent literature emphasizes updated KDIGO guidelines, which have lowered blood pressure targets to decrease cardiovascular risks in patients with advanced CKD and ESKD. First-line therapies include diuretics, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, and angiotensin II receptor blockers. New pharmacological treatments, such as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, endothelin receptor antagonists, RNA interference therapeutics, and aldosterone synthase inhibitors, offer promising options for resistant hypertension. Additionally, lifestyle modifications, including a low-salt diet and aerobic exercise, and volume control through ultrafiltration in dialysis patients, are crucial for blood pressure management.

SUMMARY

The findings suggest that individualized treatment strategies, incorporating both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic approaches, are essential for optimizing blood pressure control in patients with advanced CKD and ESKD. These strategies can improve cardiovascular outcomes and enhance patient quality of life, with important implications for clinical practice.

Cardiac evaluation in patients awaiting kidney transplant-position statement of the Cardiological Society of India and Indian Society of Nephrology

Cardiovascular diseases are a major cause of death after kidney transplantation. This statement addresses preoperative cardiac decision-making and management with the aim of assessing and reducing the risk of the kidney transplant surgery. Important issues from a clinician's perspective include the basic cardiovascular workup of these patients, coronary evaluation and management of coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease and left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Recovery left ventricular function after kidney transplant is discussed. In addition, the use of cardiovascular drugs in patients with special emphasis on antiplatelets and anticoagulants in patients planned for kidney transplant is also discussed.

Optimal timing for post-dialysis blood pressure measurement: relationship with home blood pressure monitoring

In hemodialysis patients, blood pressure (BP) measured at the postdialysis period (POSBP) can be used to diagnose hypertension. However, the optimal time point for POSBP remains uncertain. This cross-sectional study evaluated 210 long-term dialysis patients (66.7% men; age = 56.9 ± 15.7 years), who underwent POSBP measurements at three time points [immediately after dialysis period ended (POSBP1); after blood return (POSBP2) and after fistula hemostasis or catheter sealing (POSBP3)] and home BP monitoring (HBPM) over one week. POSBP1, POSBP2, POSBP3 and HBPM values were 139.1 ± 22.4/73.2 ± 12.5, 142.8 ± 22.8/74.3 ± 12.3, 142.8 ± 21.8/74.0 ± 12.2 and 131.2 ± 21.2/77.9 ± 12.1 mmHg, respectively. Systolic POSBP3 and POSBP2 were significantly greater (p < 0.05) than systolic POSBP1. POSBP3 had the greatest correlation with HBPM, while elevated (>130/80 mmHg) POSBP3 showed the highest numerical accuracy (AUC [95% CI] = 0.696 [0.638-0.754]) and concordance (kappa coefficient = 0.41) with elevated HBPM (≥130/80 mmHg) compared with POSBP1 and POSBP2. These findings suggest that POSBP3 may be a preferable measurement for assessment of POSBP in hemodialysis patients.

Resistant and Apparently Resistant Hypertension in Peritoneally Dialyzed Patients

Hypertension in chronic kidney disease patients is very common. The definition of resistant hypertension in the general population is as follows: uncontrolled blood pressure (BP) on three or more hypotensive agents in adequate doses, or when patients are on four or more hypotensive agent categories irrespective of the BP control, with diuretics included in the therapy. However, these resistant hypertension definitions do not apply to the setting of end-stage kidney disease. True resistant hypertension is diagnosed when adherence to treatment and uncontrolled values of BP by ambulatory blood pressure measurement or home blood pressure measurement are confirmed. Due to these limitations, apparent treatment-resistant hypertension (ATRH) is now defined as an uncontrolled blood pressure on three or more antihypertensive medication classes or the introduction and use of four or more medications regardless of blood pressure level. Concerning dialysis patients, data are very limited on hypertension, its epidemiology, and the prevalence of apparent treatment-resistant hypertension in peritoneal dialysis. In this review, therefore, we discuss the hypertension definitions, targets of the therapy in patients on peritoneal dialyses, and their biases and limitations. We present the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of high blood pressure in the peritoneally dialyzed population together with published data on the apparent treatment-resistant hypertension prevalence in this population. Peritoneally dialyzed patients represent a unique population of dialyzed subjects; therefore, studies should be conducted on a larger population with a higher quality of drug adherence and target blood pressure values. The definition of resistant hypertension and apparent resistant hypertension in this group should be redefined, which should also consider residual kidney function in relation to both subclinical and clinical endpoints.

The Effect of Low Dialysate Sodium Concentration on Ambulatory Aortic Blood Pressure and Arterial Stiffness in Patients With Intradialytic Hypertension: A Randomized Crossover Study

INTRODUCTION

Intradialytic hypertension (IDH) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Arterial stiffness is a strong predictor of adverse outcomes in dialysis patients and may contribute to the development of the phenomenon, as patients with IDH exhibit higher ambulatory aortic blood pressure (BP) and arterial stiffness parameters than patients without IDH.  Methods: This analysis examined the effect of low (137mEq/L) compared to standard (140mEq/L) dialysate sodium concentration on 48-hour aortic BP and arterial stiffness parameters in IDH patients. In this prespecified secondary analysis of a randomized, single-blind, crossover study, 29 IDH patients underwent four hemodialysis sessions with low followed by four sessions with standard dialysate sodium or vice-versa. Mean 48-hour, pre-/post-dialysis and intradialytic aortic systolic/diastolic BP (SBP/DBP), and arterial stiffness indices were assessed.

RESULTS

Mean 48-hour aortic SBP/DBP were significantly lower with low versus standard dialysate sodium (124.1±16.4/83.0±14.1mmHg vs 128.5±12.9/85.8±14.1mmHg, p=0.013/p=0.006 respectively). Low dialysate sodium also significantly reduced pre-dialysis aortic SBP (126.4±17.4 vs 135.6±18.6mmHg, p=0.044) and post-dialysis aortic SBP (137.0±20.0 vs 147.9±18.1mmHg, p=0.01). All wave reflection indices were numerically lower with low dialysate sodium; among them, heart rate-adjusted augmentation index (AIx(75)) was significantly lower during the 48-hour (26.3±6.7 vs 27.7±5.8%, p=0.03), 44-hour, day-time and intradialytic periods. Low dialysate sodium resulted in decreased 48-hour pulse wave velocity (PWV) (9.9±2.5 vs 10.1±2.6m/s, p=0.008); similar differences for PWV were observed during all examined time intervals.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, ambulatory 48-hour aortic BP and arterial stiffness parameters were significantly lower using low compared to standard dialysate sodium in IDH patients. These findings further support the use of low dialysate sodium for BP management in this population.

I Brazilian guideline on hypertension in dialysis of the Brazilian Society of Nephrology

Hypertension in dialysis patients (HTND) has a high prevalence, affecting at least 80% or more of patients, and its management in the nephrology practice is heterogeneous and often empirical. Knowing how to define, understand the pathophysiology, diagnose, monitor and treat with lifestyle changes, and adjust antihypertensive drugs to achieve the recommended blood pressure (BP) target - to reduce morbidity and mortality - requires specific knowl-edge and approaches within the contexts of hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD). This document is the first guideline of the Brazilian Society of Nephrology, developed by the departments of Hypertension and Dialysis. It aims to guide physicians who provide care in dialysis centers on how to manage patients with HTND, in a comprehensive and individualized manner, based on the critical appraisal of the best available scientific evidence. When such evidence is scarce or unavailable, the opinion of specialists should be recommended. The different topics covered include HTND definition (pre-HD BP ≥ 140/90 mmHg and post-HD BP ≥ 130/80 mmHg), epidemiology, and pathophysiology; diagnosis of HTND preferably with BP measurements outside the dialysis setting (BP ≥ 130/80 mmHg); complementary assessment; blood pressure targets; non-pharmacological treatment; use of the most appropriate antihypertensive medications; special situations; and complications of HTND, predominantly cardiovascular ones.

Association Between Blood Pressure Variation During Dialysis and Cardio-Cerebrovascular Events

In hemodialysis patients, blood pressure variability (BPV) is associated with cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. However, previous research has predominantly concentrated on the predialysis BPV. In contrast, intradialytic BPV, reflecting the cardiovascular regulatory function during the process of rapid clearance of volume overload, holds greater relevance to the prognosis of patients. In this study, a latent category trajectory model was used to identify the patterns of intradialytic BPV and analyze the association between intradialytic BPV and the cardio-cerebrovascular events and other clinical outcomes. We found the variation of intradialytic systolic blood pressure (SBP) was associated with the risk of cardio-cerebrovascular events in hemodialysis patients. Patients in "SBP Class 4" and "SBP Class 3" subgroups were associated with the occurrence of cardio-cerebrovascular events and the number of cardio-cerebrovascular event hospitalizations during the follow-up period. This indicates that the variation pattern of intradialytic SBP results from the comprehensive action of various BP regulatory mechanisms in the body, which can reflect the level of cardiovascular regulatory function in hemodialysis patients and serve as a predictor of recent adverse cardio-cerebrovascular events.

The association of sex differences in ambulatory blood pressure with cardiovascular events and mortality in dialysis patients

Male patients with pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) have worse ambulatory blood pressure (BP) control than females; this is associated with higher mortality. Male hemodialysis patients have higher ambulatory BP levels than females. This analysis aimed to investigate the association of sex differences in ambulatory BP with cardiovascular events and mortality in hemodialysis individuals. 129 male and 91 female hemodialysis patients with valid 48-h BP monitoring were followed for 53.4 ± 31.1 months. The primary endpoint was cardiovascular mortality; the secondary endpoint was a composite of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, resuscitation after cardiac arrest, heart failure-hospitalization, coronary or peripheral revascularization. Cumulative freedom from the primary endpoint was lower for women (logrank-p = 0.032), while cumulative-freedom from the secondary endpoint did not differ significantly between-groups (logrank-p = 0.644). The crude risk for cardiovascular mortality was significantly higher in women (HR = 1.613, 95% CI [1.037, 2.509]). The crude risk for the combined endpoint was not different between the two groups (HR = 0.918, 95% CI [0.638, 1.320]). After adjusting for major risk factors (age, diabetes, dialysis vintage, coronary disease and hemoglobin) no significant differences in the risk for both the primary and the secondary endpoint were observed between women and men (primary: HR = 1.295 (95% CI [0.808, 2.078]), secondary: HR = 0.763 (95% CI [0.521, 1.118])). After additional adjustment for 44-h systolic BP the above relationships did not alter (primary: HR = 1.329 (95% CI [0.826, 2.137]), secondary: HR = 0.808 (95% CI [0.551, 1.184])). In conclusion, female hemodialysis patients have higher crude but similar adjusted cardiovascular mortality rates compared to male counterparts. In contrast to pre-dialysis CKD, the neutral relationship between gender and adverse cardiovascular outcomes in hemodialysis is not further affected by ambulatory BP.

Dialysate sodium and short-term blood pressure variability in patients with intradialytic hypertension: a randomized crossover study

Increased blood pressure (BP) variability (BPV) is associated with high cardiovascular risk in hemodialysis. Patients with intradialytic hypertension (IDH) also exhibit an increased cardiovascular risk compared to hemodialysis patients without this condition. The impact of non-pharmacological BP-lowering interventions on BPV in this population remains unknown. This analysis evaluated the effect of low (137mEq/L) compared to standard (140mEq/L) dialysate sodium concentration on short-term BPV in patients with IDH. In a randomized cross-over manner, 29 IDH patients underwent 4 hemodialysis sessions with low (137mEq/L) followed by 4 sessions with standard (140mEq/L) dialysate sodium or vice versa. 48 h ambulatory BP measurement was performed from the start of the 4th session on each dialysate sodium. BPV indices during the 48 h, 24 h, day-time and night-time periods were calculated. Mean 48 h BP was 5.3/2.6 mmHg lower with low compared to standard dialysate sodium concentration, (p = 0.005/p = 0.007 respectively). All 48 h systolic BPV indices examined showed non-significant differences between low and standard dialysate sodium (SBP-SD: 16.99 ± 5.39 vs. 16.98 ± 4.33 mmHg, p = 0.982; SBP-wSD: 15.93 ± 5.02 vs. 16.12 ± 4.16 mmHg, p = 0.769; SBP-ARV: 11.99 ± 3.67 vs. 11.45 ± 3.35 mmHg, p = 0.392; SBP-CV: 12.36 ± 3.65 vs. 11.92 ± 3.18%, p = 0.302, with low vs. standard dialysate sodium, respectively). Diastolic BPV indices were numerically, but not statistically, lower with low dialysate sodium. Overall, significant differences were observed in some comparisons with a trend for lower BPV during day-time 2 and higher BVP during night-time 2 with low dialysate sodium. In conclusion, low dialysate sodium concentration does not affect BPV levels in patients with IDH. Future research should explore alternative interventions to reduce BP and BPV in this high-risk population.

A European Renal Association (ERA) synopsis for nephrology practice of the 2023 European Society of Hypertension (ESH) Guidelines for the Management of Arterial Hypertension

In June 2023, the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) presented and published the new 2023 ESH Guidelines for the Management of Arterial Hypertension, a document that was endorsed by the European Renal Association (ERA). Following the evolution of evidence in recent years, several novel recommendations relevant to the management of hypertension in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) appeared in these Guidelines. These include recommendations for target office blood pressure (BP) <130/80 mmHg in most and against target office BP <120/70 mmHg in all patients with CKD; recommendations for use of spironolactone or chlorthalidone for patients with resistant hypertension with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) higher or lower than 30 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively; use of a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor for patients with CKD and estimated eGFR ≥20 mL/min/1.73 m2; use of finerenone for patients with CKD, type 2 diabetes mellitus, albuminuria, eGFR ≥25 mL/min/1.73 m2 and serum potassium <5.0 mmol/L; and revascularization in patients with atherosclerotic renovascular disease and secondary hypertension or high-risk phenotypes if stenosis ≥70% is present. The present report is a synopsis of sections of the ESH Guidelines that are relevant to the daily clinical practice of nephrologists, prepared by experts from ESH and ERA. The sections summarized are those referring to the role of CKD in hypertension staging and cardiovascular risk stratification, the evaluation of hypertension-mediated kidney damage and the overall management of hypertension in patients with CKD.

Accuracy of 24 h ambulatory blood pressure recordings for diagnosing high 44 h blood pressure in hemodialysis: a diagnostic test study

Hypertension is highly prevalent in hemodialysis patients. Ambulatory-BP-monitoring(ABPM) during the 44 h interdialytic interval is recommended for hypertension diagnosis and management in these subjects. This study assessed the diagnostic accuracy of fixed 24 h ABPM recordings with 44 h BP in hemodialysis patients. 242 Greek hemodialysis patients that underwent valid 48 h ABPM(Mobil-O-Graph NG device) were included in the analysis. We used 44 h BP as reference method and tested the accuracy of the following BP metrics: 1st 24 h without HD period (20 h-1st), 1st 24 h including HD period (24 h-1st) and 2nd 24 h(24 h-2nd). All studied metrics showed strong correlations with 44 h SBP/DBP (20 h-1st: r = 0.973/0.978, 24 h-1st: r = 0.964/0.972 and 24 h-2nd: r = 0.978/0.977, respectively). In Bland-Altman analysis, small between-method differences (-1.70, -1.19 and +1.45 mmHg) with good 95% limits-of agreement([-10.83 to 7.43], [-11.12 to 8.74] and [-6.33 to 9.23] mmHg, respectively) for 20 h-1st, 24 h-1st and 24 h-2nd SBP were observed. The sensitivity/specificity and κ-statistic for diagnosing 44 h SBP ≥ 130 mmHg were high for 20 h-1st SBP(87.2%/96.0%, κ-statistic = 0.817), 24 h-1st SBP(88.7%/96.0%, κ-statistic = 0.833) and 24 h-2nd SBP (95.0%/88.1%, κ-statistic = 0.837). Similar observations were made for DBP. In ROC-analyses, all studied BP metrics showed excellent performance with high Area-Under-the- Curve values (20 h-1st: 0.983/0.992; 24 h-1st: 0.984/0.987 and 24 h-2nd: 0.982/0.989 for SBP/DBP respectively). Fixed 24 h ABPM recordings during either the first or the second day of interdialytic interval have high accuracy and strong agreement with 44 h BP in hemodialysis patients. Thus, ABPM recordings of either the first or the second interdialytic day could be used for hypertension diagnosis and management in these subjects.

Home-Based Dialysis: A Primer for the Internist

Home-based dialysis modalities offer both clinical and practical advantages to patients. The use of the home-based modalities, peritoneal dialysis and home hemodialysis, has been increasing over the past decade after a long period of decline. Given the increasing frequency of use of these types of dialysis, it is important for clinicians to be familiar with how these types of dialysis are performed and key clinical aspects of care related to their use in patients with end-stage kidney disease.

Management of nocturnal hypertension: An expert consensus document from Chinese Hypertension League

Nocturnal hypertension is highly prevalent among Chinese and Asian populations, which is mainly attributed to high salt intake and high salt sensitivity. Nocturnal hypertension increases the risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality, independent of daytime blood pressure (BP). However, it can usually be detected by 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring, rather than routine office or home BP measurement, thus is often underdiagnosed in clinical practice. Currently, no specific guidance is available for the management of nocturnal hypertension in China or worldwide. Experts from the Chinese Hypertension League summarized the epidemiologic and pathophysiologic characteristics and clinical phenotype of nocturnal hypertension and provided consensus recommendations on optimal management of nocturnal hypertension, with the goal of maximally reducing the cardiovascular disease risks. In this consensus document, 24-h ABPM is recommended for screening and diagnosis of nocturnal hypertension, especially in the elderly, patients with diabetes, chronic kidney diseases, obstructive sleep apnea and other conditions prone to high nocturnal BP. Lifestyle modifications including salt intake restriction, exercise, weight loss, sleep improvement, and mental stress relief are recommended. Long-acting antihypertensive medications are preferred for nocturnal and 24-h BP control. Some newly developed agents, renal denervation, and other device-based therapy on nocturnal BP reduction are evaluated.

Effects of live music during hemodialysis treatments in pediatric patients

BACKGROUND

Engaging chronically ill pediatric patients with live music has been associated with improved physiological and psychological well-being. However, the impact of live music during hemodialysis treatments has yet to be assessed, in particular in pediatric patients. This study focuses on the effects of live music therapy during chronic hemodialysis treatment.

METHODS

An experimental design with randomization was applied in this pilot study. A total of 16 participants with kidney failure requiring hemodialysis participated in the study. In addition to their usual care (N = 96 measurements), the patients in the experimental group listened to 30 min of live music during their hemodialysis procedure. The control group was observed for 30 min while they received their usual care (N = 96 measurements) and were exposed to a series of animated videos that were broadcast in the common room where hemodialysis treatment is performed. Data concerning heart rate, blood pressure, and levels of depression and anxiety were collected for analysis.

RESULTS

Live music significantly reduced heart rate (p < 0.05), systolic pressure (p < 0.05) and diastolic pressure (p < 0.05). The findings also highlighted that, after listening to live music, there was a significant decrease in anxiety and depression (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In our small study sample, live music improved some physiological and psychological indices in pediatric hemodialysis patients. Further research evaluating larger samples with longitudinal follow-up is required.

Diagnosis and treatment of hypertension in dialysis patients: a systematic review

In patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing dialysis, hypertension is common but often inadequately controlled. The prevalence of hypertension varies widely among studies because of differences in the definition of hypertension and the methods of used to measure blood pressure (BP), i.e., peri-dialysis or ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM). Recently, ABPM has become the gold standard for diagnosing hypertension in dialysis patients. Home BP monitoring can also be a good alternative to ABPM, emphasizing BP measurement outside the hemodialysis (HD) unit. One thing for sure is pre- and post-dialysis BP measurements should not be used alone to diagnose and manage hypertension in dialysis patients. The exact target of BP and the relationship between BP and all-cause mortality or cause-specific mortality are unclear in this population. Many observational studies with HD cohorts have almost universally reported a U-shaped or even an L-shaped association between BP and all-cause mortality, but most of these data are based on the BP measured in HD units. Some data with ABPM have shown a linear association between BP and mortality even in HD patients, similar to the general population. Supporting this, the results of meta-analysis have shown a clear benefit of BP reduction in HD patients. Therefore, further research is needed to determine the optimal target BP in the dialysis population, and for now, an individualized approach is appropriate, with particular emphasis on avoiding excessively low BP. Maintaining euvolemia is of paramount importance for BP control in dialysis patients. Patient heterogeneity and the lack of comparative evidence preclude the recommendation of one class of medication over another for all patients. Recently, however, β-blockers could be considered as a first-line therapy in dialysis patients, as they can reduce sympathetic overactivity and left ventricular hypertrophy, which contribute to the high incidence of arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Several studies with mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists have also reported promising results in reducing mortality in dialysis patients. However, safety issues such as hyperkalemia or hypotension should be further evaluated before their use.

Resistant hypertension in dialysis

Hypertension is the most common finding in chronic kidney disease patients, with prevalence ranging from 60% to 90% depending on the stage and etiology of the disease. It is also a significant independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, progression to end-stage kidney disease and mortality. According to the current guidelines, resistant hypertension is defined in the general population as uncontrolled blood pressure on three or more antihypertensive drugs in adequate doses or when patients are on four or more antihypertensive drug categories irrespective of the blood pressure control, providing that antihypertensive treatment included diuretics. The currently established definitions of resistant hypertension are not directly applicable to the end-stage kidney disease setting. The diagnosis of true resistant hypertension requires confirmation of adherence to therapy and confirmation of uncontrolled blood pressure values by ambulatory blood pressure measurement or home blood pressure measurement. In addition, the term "apparent treatment-resistant hypertension," defined as an uncontrolled blood pressure on three or more antihypertensive medication classes, or use of four or more medications regardless of blood pressure level was introduced. In this comprehensive review we focused on the definitions of hypertension, and therapeutic targets in patients on renal replacement therapy, including the limitations and biases. We discussed the issue of pathophysiology and assessment of blood pressure in the dialyzed population, management of resistant hypertension as well as available data on prevalence of apparent treatment-resistant hypertension in end-stage kidney disease. To conclude, larger sample-size and even higher quality studies about drug adherence should be conducted in the population of patients with the end-stage kidney disease who are on dialysis. It also should be determined how and when blood pressure should be measured in the group of dialysis patients. Additionally, it should be stated what the target blood pressure values in this group of patients really are. The definition of resistant hypertension in this group should be revisited, and its relationship to both subclinical and clinical endpoints should be established.

Results of Salt Intake Restriction Monitored with the New Sodium Control Biosensor

INTRODUCTION

Adherence to a low-sodium (Na) diet is crucial in patients under hemodialysis, as it improves cardiovascular outcomes and reduces thirst and interdialytic weight gain. Recommended salt intake is lower than 5 g/day. The new 6008 CAREsystem monitors incorporate a Na module that offers the advantage of estimating patients' salt intake. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary Na restriction for 1 week, monitored with the Na biosensor.

METHODS

A prospective study was conducted in 48 patients who maintained their usual dialysis parameters and were dialyzed with a 6008 CAREsystem monitor with activation of the Na module. Total Na balance, pre-/post-dialysis weight, serum Na (sNa), changes in pre- to post-dialysis sNa (ΔsNa), diffusive balance, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were compared twice, once after 1 week of patients' usual Na diet and again after another week with more restricted Na intake.

RESULTS

Restricted Na intake increased the percentage of patients on a low-Na diet (<85 Na mmol/day) from 8% to 44%. Average daily Na intake decreased from 149 ± 54 to 95 ± 49 mmol, and interdialytic weight gain was reduced by 460 ± 484 g per session. More restricted Na intake also decreased pre-dialysis sNa and increased both intradialytic diffusive balance and ΔsNa. In hypertensive patients, reducing daily Na by more than 3 g Na/day lowered their systolic blood pressure.

CONCLUSIONS

The new Na module allowed objective monitoring of Na intake, which in turn could permit more precise personalized dietary recommendations in patients under hemodialysis.

Management of intradialytic hypertension: current evidence and future perspectives

Intradialytic hypertension (IDH), that is, a paradoxical rise in blood pressure (BP) during or immediately after a hemodialysis session, affects approximately 10-15% of the hemodialysis population. It is currently recognized as a phenomenon of major clinical significance as recent studies have shown that BP elevation extends to the whole interdialytic interval and associates with increased cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. The pathophysiology of IDH is complex involving volume and sodium overload, endothelial dysfunction, excess renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and sympathetic nervous system activation, and other mechanisms. For several years, there was a scarcity of studies regarding IDH treatment; recently, however, several attempts to examine the effect of nonpharmacological and pharmacological measures on BP levels in IDH are made. This review attempts to summarize this latest evidence in the field of management of IDH and discuss areas for future research.

Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists for cardioprotection in chronic kidney disease: a step into the future

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) share major risk factors and mechanistic pathways for progression. Furthermore, either decreased glomerular filtration rate or increased albuminuria are major risk factors for cardiovascular events. Evidence from previous renal outcome trials in patients with proteinuric CKD showed that angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin-II receptor blockers (ARBs) effectively slow CKD progression, establishing these agents as fundamental CKD pharmacologic treatments. However, in all these trials and subsequent meta-analyses, ACEIs and ARBs did not significantly reduce cardiovascular events or mortality, indicating a high residual risk for CVD progression in individuals with CKD. In contrast to the above, several outcome trials with old and novel mineralocorticoid receptor-antagonists (MRAs) clearly suggest that these agents, apart from nephroprotection, offer important cardioprotection in this population. This article is an overview of previous and recent evidence on the effects of MRAs on cardiovascular outcomes in patients with CKD attempting to highlight a pathway able to improve both cardiovascular and renal prognosis in this population.

A parallel evaluation of short- and mid-term changes of ambulatory blood pressure in kidney transplant recipients and kidney donors

Introduction

Kidney transplantation (KTx) is associated with improved blood pressure (BP) levels for kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) without evoking significant changes in donors. However, there is a paucity of studies offering simultaneous detailed evaluation of BP profiles over time in transplant donor-recipient pairs. The aim of the present study was the parallel evaluation of ambulatory BP levels and trajectories in KTRs and their respective living kidney donors in the short and mid-term following KTx.

Methods

The study enrolled 40 prospective adult KTRs and their 40 respective donors. All participants were evaluated with 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring (Mobil-O-Graph NG device) at three time points: baseline (1 month before KTx), 3 months and 12 months after KTx.

Results

In KTRs, 3-month 24-h systolic BP (SBP) was marginally reduced and 12-month 24-h SBP significantly reduced compared with baseline [131.9 ± 13.3 versus 126.4 ± 11.9 mmHg (P = .075) and 123.9 ± 10.3 mmHg (P = .009),  respectively]. At both the 3- and 12-month time points, 24-h diastolic BP (DBP) was significantly reduced [86.7 ± 11.5 versus 82.2 ± 8.1 mmHg (P = .043) and 80.3 ± 8.5 mmHg (P = .009)]. Similar observations were made for day- and night time SBP and DBP. Repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed a significant gradual decrease over time in mean 24-h SBP [F(1.463, 39.505) = 3.616; P = .049, partial η ² = 0.118] and DBP [F(1.374, 37.089) = 11.34; P = .055, partial η ² = 0.116]. In contrast, in kidney donors, 24-h SBP [118.5 ± 11.6 versus 118.2 ± 12.8 mmHg (P = .626) and 119.2 ± 11.4 mmHg (P = .748)] and DBP did not change at 3 or 12 months compared with baseline; repeated measures ANOVA showed no differences in the mean 24-h SBP and DBP levels over time. The number of antihypertensive agents decreas in KTRs and remained stable in donors.

Conclusions

KTx reduces ambulatory BP levels and trajectories in KTRs at 3 months and further so at 12 months post-surgery. Kidney donation does not affect the ambulatory BP levels and trajectories of donors at the same intervals.

Ambulatory blood pressure trajectories and blood pressure variability in kidney transplant recipients: a comparative study against haemodialysis patients

Background

Hypertension is the most prevalent cardiovascular risk factor in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). Preliminary data suggest similar ambulatory blood pressure (BP) levels in KTRs and haemodialysis (HD) patients. This is the first study comparing the full ambulatory BP profile and short-term BP variability (BPV) in KTRs versus HD patients.

Methods

A total of 204 KTRs were matched (2:1 ratio) with 102 HD patients for age and gender. BP levels, BP trajectories and BPV indices over a 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) in KTRs were compared against both the first and second 24-h periods of a standard 48-h ABPM in HD patients. To evaluate the effect of renal replacement treatment and time on ambulatory BP levels, a two-way ANOVA for repeated measurements was performed.

Results

KTRs had significantly lower systolic blood pressure (SBP) and pulse-pressure (PP) levels compared with HD patients during all periods studied (24-h SBP: KTR: 126.5 ± 12.1 mmHg; HD first 24 h: 132.0 ± 18.1 mmHg; P = 0.006; second 24 h: 134.3 ± 17.7 mmHg; P < 0.001); no significant differences were noted for diastolic blood pressure levels with the exception of the second nighttime. Repeated measurements ANOVA showed a significant effect of renal replacement therapy modality and time on ambulatory SBP levels during all periods studied, and a significant interaction between them; the greatest between-group difference in BP (KTRs-HD in mmHg) was observed at the end of the second 24 h [-13.9 mmHg (95% confidence interval -21.5 to -6.2); P < 0.001]. Ambulatory systolic and diastolic BPV indices were significantly lower in KTRs than in HD patients during all periods studied (24-h SBP average real variability: KTRs: 9.6 ± 2.3 mmHg; HD first 24 h: 10.3 ± 3.0 mmHg; P = 0.032; second 24 h: 11.5 ± 3.0 mmHg; P < 0.001). No differences were noted in dipping pattern between the two groups.

Conclusions

SBP and PP levels and trajectories, and BPV were significantly lower in KTRs compared with age- and gender-matched HD patients during all periods studied. These findings suggest a more favourable ambulatory BP profile in KTRs, in contrast to previous observations.

[Out-of-center blood pressure measurements in dialysis patients: Feasibility and comparison of methods]

The European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association (ERA-EDTA)/European Society of Hypertension (ESH) recommends out-of-center blood pressure measurements, self-blood pressure measurement or ambulatory blood pressure measurement in dialysis patients. However, the feasibility of out-of-center blood pressure measurements in routine care is not known. The objective of our study was to quantify it as "a priori" i.e. the percentage of hemodialysis to whom out-of-center blood pressure measurements can be proposed and who accept it, as "a posteriori", i.e. the percentage of out-of-center blood pressure measurements made and valid. A systematic out-of-center blood pressure measurements program was implemented from April to October 2019 in our chronic hemodialysis structures. It was proposed to each dialysis patient to carry out after education, an self-blood pressure measurement (Omron M3®), from 2 measurements, to 1 to 2minutes interval, mornings and evenings of 6days without dialysis (validity: 15 measures). Apart from arrhythmic patients, to all patients "not eligible" for self-blood pressure measurement (visually impaired, hemiplegic, neuropsychological disorders, language barrier), a 44-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurement (Microlife WatchBP 03®) was proposed separating 2 hemodialysis sessions; measures every 15minutes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and 30minutes from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. (validity: 40 measurements/day and 14/night). This is a study evaluating practices recommended for routine care in 18-year-old hemodialysis, having given their consent to the collection and analysis of the data. One hundred twenty nine patients were treated with chronic hemodialysis in our structures during the out-of-center blood pressure measurements campaign. Out-of-center blood pressure measurements could not be done in 21 patients (4 deceased, 2 transplanted and 4 absent before evaluation; 7 arrhythmics; 3 refusals and 1 multiple-disabled). Of these 108 patients (sex ratio 1.25; 69.3±13.5 years), 23 were ineligible for self-blood pressure measurement (visually impaired, neuro- and/or psychological disorders, language barrier). Due to 4 self-blood pressure measurement failures, the feasibility of the self-blood pressure measurement (n=81/129) is 62.8 % (CI95% 54.2-70.7). Of the 24 ambulatory blood pressure measurements performed (23 among those not eligible for self-blood pressure measurement and 1 failure of self-blood pressure measurement), 19 were valid. The "a posteriori" feasibility of out-of-center blood pressure measurements (n=100/129) is 77.5 % (CI95% 69.6-83.4). The feasibility of out-of-center blood pressure measurements in hemodialysis patients is good, making the application of the recommendations possible.

Current apparent treatment-resistant hypertension in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis: A multi-center cross-sectional study

Apparent treatment‐resistant hypertension (aTRH) is the most commonly used term to report resistant hypertension (RH) and is considered as a common problem in dialysis population. However, few reports have focused on peritoneal dialysis (PD) hypertensive patients. The authors conducted a multi‐center cross‐sectional study involving 1789 PD patients from nine centers in Guangdong, China. The prevalence of aTRH was estimated by home blood pressure (BP) monitoring. Evaluating drug adherence through Eight‐item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS‐8) and pill counting was performed to assess RH in one PD center. Related factors of aTRH were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. The prevalence of aTRH in PD patients was estimated at 42.2% (755 out of 1789 hypertensive patients) based on home BP. Of those, 91.4% patients were classified as uncontrolled RH, 2.0% as controlled RH, and 6.6% as refractory hypertension. The prevalence of RH was 40.6% and 41.9% among those with medium/high adherence based on the MMAS‐8 scores and the pill counting rate, respectively. PD patients who were younger, with higher body mass index, with lower serum albumin and poorer dialysis adequacy were significantly associated with higher aTRH incident. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates a high prevalence of aTRH in PD population, which occurs in about two in five treated hypertensive patients. Nutritional status and dialysis adequacy might tightly associate with aTRH.

Évaluation de la performance de la mesure conventionnelle et séquentielle de la pression artérielle en centre chez les patients en dialyse péritonéale à Dakar

Introduction : L’objectif de cette étude était d’évaluer les performances des mesures conventionnelles (MCPA) et séquentielles (MSPA) de la pression artérielle en prenant la MAPA comme référence. Patients et méthodes : A travers une étude transversale incluant 17 patients suivis dans l’unité de DP de l’Hôpital Aristide Le Dantec, la PA a été mesurée par 3 méthodes : i) une mesure automatisée (OMRON M3 COMFORT) effectué par un personnel de santé dite MCPA (OMRON M3 COMFORTTM) ; ii) la moyenne de 5 mesures automatisées chez un patient isolé dans un box dite MSPA ; iii) la MAPA des 24h avec l’appareil CONTECTM (Germany). L’HTA a été retenue devant une PA supérieure à 130/80 mmHg à la MAPA des 24h. Résultats : L’aire sous la courbe (AUC) de la PAS était similaire (p=0,28) entre la MSPA [AUC, 0,933 ; IC à 95 %, 0,813 – 1,000] et la MCPA [AUC, 0,900 ; IC à 95 %, 0,752 – 1,000]. Concernant la PAD, la MSPA [AUC, 0,858 ; IC à 95 %, 0,638 – 1,000] était similaire (p=1) à la MCPA [AUC, 0,917 ; IC à 95 %, 0,753 – 1,000]. À l’analyse de Bland-Altman, la MCPA surestimait  la PAS de 11,65 mmHg et la PAD de 3,94 mmHg. La MSPA quant à elle surestimait la PAS de 6,2 mmHg et la PAD de 4,35 mmHg. Conclusion : La MSPA et la MCPA sont performantes dans le diagnostic de l’HTA ambulatoire chez les patients en dialyse péritonéale à Dakar.

Different circadian patterns of arterial stiffness are responsible for increased cardiovascular mortality in hemodialyzed patients

We hypothesized that volume changes during 48-h are associated with different circadian patterns of arterial stiffness on non-dialysis day compared to dialysis day and that the night-time increase of arterial stiffness is associated with higher mortality. The patients whose night-time mean pulse wave velocity levels drop or rise more than 0.5 m/s compared with the day-time period were defined as pulse wave velocity dippers and risers. The patients whose night-time mean augmentation index drop or rise more than 10% compared with the day-time period were defined as augmentation index dippers and risers. There was significantly higher number of patients with dipping and rising pattern of augmentation index and pulse wave velocity on non-dialysis day when compared to dialysis day. On the non-dialysis day both nocturnal augmentation index and pulse wave velocity levels were higher in deceased group with significantly higher number of augmentation index and pulse wave velocity dippers when compared to survived patients. In the linear regression model, the strongest association of survival was with augmentation index and pulse wave velocity risers on the non-dialysis day. On logistic regression only pulse wave velocity rising pattern on non-dialysis day had increased HR of 1.78 for cardiovascular mortality. The present study is the first which analyzed circadian patterns of arterial stiffness in patients on hemodialysis and compared their impact on cardiovascular mortality. A significantly greater number of patients had an augmentation index and pulse wave velocity rising pattern in the deceased group compared to the survived group of patients. Survival had the strongest association with augmentation index and pulse wave velocity risers on the non-dialysis day.

A Comparison of Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease

The high prevalence of cardiovascular disease is caused by the traditional cardiovascular risk factors common among end-stage renal disease patients, and nontraditional risk factors attributed to underlying kidney disease, including chronic inflammation, anemia, bone mineral disease, and the dialysis procedure itself. Individualization of the treatment of cardiovascular disease in end-stage renal disease that could impact the underlying mechanisms of the cardiovascular diseases is important to improve outcomes. This article reviews and compares hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis in association with different cardiovascular diseases affecting dialysis patients, including hypertension, coronary artery disease, myocardial stunning, cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure, and the cardiorenal syndrome.

Optimal blood pressure for patients with end-stage renal disease following coronary interventions

Hypertension is a frequent manifestation of chronic kidney disease but the ideal blood pressure (BP) target in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) (eGFR < 15 ml/min/1.73m² ) still unclear. The authors aimed to investigate the ideal achieved BP in ESRD patients with CAD after coronary intervention. Five hundred and seventy-five ESRD patients who had undergone percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) were enrolled and their clinical outcomes were analyzed according to the category of systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) achieved. The clinical outcomes included major cardiovascular events (MACE) and MACE plus hospitalization for congestive heart failure (total cardiovascular (CV) event).The mean systolic BP was 135.0 ± 24.7 mm Hg and the mean diastolic BP was 70.7 ± 13.1 mm Hg. Systolic BP 140-149 mm Hg and diastolic BP 80-89 mm Hg had the lowest MACE (11.0%; 13.2%) and total CV event (23.3%; 21.1%). Patients with systolic BP < 120 mm Hg had a higher risk of MACE (HR: 2.01; 95% CI: 1.17-3.46, p = .008) than those with systolic BP 140-149 mm Hg. Patients with systolic BP ≥ 160 mm Hg (HR: 1.84; 95% CI, 3.27-1.04, p = .04) and diastolic blood BP ≥ 90 mm Hg (HR: 2.19; 95% CI: 1.15-4.16, p = .02) had a higher risk of total CV event rate when compared to those with systolic BP 140-149 mm Hg and diastolic BP 80-89 mm Hg. A J-shaped association between systolic (140-149 mm Hg) and diastolic (80-89 mm Hg) BP and decreased cardiovascular events for CAD was found in patients with ESRD after undergoing PCI in non-Western population.

Hypertension in kidney transplantation: a consensus statement of the 'hypertension and the kidney' working group of the European Society of Hypertension

Hypertension is common in kidney transplantation recipients and may be difficult to treat. Factors present before kidney transplantation, related to the transplantation procedure itself and factors developing after transplantation may contribute to blood pressure (BP) elevation in kidney transplant recipients. The present consensus is based on the results of three recent systematic reviews, the latest guidelines and the current literature. The current transplant guidelines, which recommend only office BP assessments for risk stratification in kidney transplant patients should be reconsidered, given the presence of white-coat hypertension and masked hypertension in this population and the better prediction of adverse outcomes by 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring as indicated in recent systematic reviews. Hypertension is associated with adverse kidney and cardiovascular outcomes and decreased survival in kidney transplant recipients. Current evidence suggests calcium channel blockers could be the preferred first-step antihypertensive agents in kidney transplant patients, as they improve graft function and reduce graft loss, whereas no clear benefit is documented for renin-angiotensin system inhibitor use over conventional treatment in the current literature. Randomized control trials demonstrating the clinical benefits of BP lowering on kidney and major cardiovascular events and recording patient-related outcomes are still needed. These trials should define optimal BP targets for kidney transplant recipients. In the absence of kidney transplant-specific evidence, BP targets in kidney transplant recipients should be similar to those in the wider chronic kidney disease population.

Cardiovascular Protection With Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors and Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Milestone Achieved

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiovascular disease are intimately linked. They share major risk factors, including age, hypertension, and diabetes, and common pathogenetic mechanisms. Furthermore, reduced renal function and kidney injury documented with albuminuria are independent risk factors for cardiovascular events and mortality. In major renal outcome trials and subsequent meta-analyses in patients with CKD, ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors and ARBs (angiotensin II receptor blockers) were shown to effectively retard CKD progression but not to significantly reduce cardiovascular events or mortality. Thus, a high residual risk for cardiovascular disease progression under standard-of-care treatment is still present for patients with CKD. In contrast to the above, several outcome trials with SGLT-2 (sodium-glucose cotransporter-2) inhibitors and MRAs (mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists) clearly suggest that these agents, apart from nephroprotection, offer important cardioprotection in this population. This article discusses existing evidence on the effects of SGLT-2 inhibitors and MRAs on cardiovascular outcomes in patients with CKD that open new roads in cardiovascular protection of this heavily burdened population.

A Systematic Approach To Promoting Home Hemodialysis during End Stage Kidney Disease

Home dialysis has garnered much attention since the advent of the Advancing American Kidney Health initiative. For many patients and nephrologists, home dialysis and peritoneal dialysis are synonymous. However, home hemodialysis (HHD) should not be forgotten. Since 2004, HHD has grown more rapidly than other dialytic modalities. The cardinal feature of HHD is customizability of treatment intensity, which can be titrated to address the vexing problems of volume and pressure loading during interdialytic gaps and ultrafiltration intensity during each hemodialysis session. Growing HHD utilization requires commitment to introducing patients to the modality throughout the course of ESKD. In this article, we describe a set of strategies for introducing HHD concepts and equipment. First, patients initiating dialysis may attend a transitional care unit, which offers an educational program about all dialytic modalities during 3-5 weeks of in-facility hemodialysis, possibly using HHD equipment. Second, prevalent patients on hemodialysis may participate in "trial-run" programs, which allow patients to experience increased treatment frequency and HHD equipment for several weeks, but without the overt commitment of initiating HHD training. In both models, perceived barriers to HHD-including fear of equipment, anxiety about self-cannulation, catheter dependence, and the absence of a care partner-can be addressed in a supportive setting. Third, patients on peritoneal dialysis who are nearing a transition to hemodialysis may be encouraged to consider a home-to-home transition (i.e., from peritoneal dialysis to HHD). Taken together, these strategies represent a systematic approach to growing HHD utilization in multiple phenotypes of patients on dialysis. With the feature of facilitating intensive hemodialysis, HHD can be a key not only to satiating demand for home dialysis, but also to improving the health of patients on dialysis.

Comparative Efficacy and Safety of BP-Lowering Pharmacotherapy in Patients Undergoing Maintenance Dialysis: A Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized, Controlled Trials

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Elevated BP is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease, with a prevalence of over 80% in patients undergoing maintenance dialysis. We assessed the comparative BP-lowering efficacy and the safety of BP-lowering drugs in patients undergoing maintenance dialysis.

DESIGN, SETTINGS, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS

We performed a frequentist random effects network meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials evaluating BP-lowering agents in adult patients undergoing maintenance dialysis. Electronic databases (CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and Embase) were systematically searched (up to August 2018) for relevant trials. The main outcome was systolic BP reduction.

RESULTS

Forty trials (4283 participants) met our inclusion criteria. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, β-blockers, calcium-channel blockers, and aldosterone antagonists lowered systolic BP to a greater extent than placebo, with effect sizes ranging from -10.8 mm Hg (95% confidence interval, -14.8 to -6.7 mm Hg) for the aldosterone antagonists to -4.3 mm Hg (95% confidence interval, -7.2 to -1.5 mm Hg) for angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. Aldosterone antagonists and β-blockers were superior to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, calcium-channel blockers, and renin inhibitors at lowering systolic BP. Compared with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, aldosterone antagonists and β-blockers lowered systolic BP by 6.4 mm Hg (95% confidence interval, -11.4 to -1.4 mm Hg) and 4.4 mm Hg (95% confidence interval, -7.4 to -1.3 mm Hg), respectively. Systolic BP reduction was not different with angiotensin receptor blockers, α-blockers, and calcium-channel blockers compared with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. Renin inhibitors were less effective. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, and aldosterone antagonists incurred risks of drug discontinuation due to adverse events and hypotension.

CONCLUSIONS

BP-lowering agents significantly reduced systolic BP in patients undergoing maintenance dialysis. β-Blockers and aldosterone antagonists may confer larger reductions, although treatment with aldosterone antagonists may be limited by adverse events.

Assessment of Hydration Status in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: Validity, Prognostic Value, Strengths, and Limitations of Available Techniques

BACKGROUND

The majority of patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) suffer from volume overload and this overhydration is associated with increased mortality. Thus, optimal assessment of volume status in PD is an issue of paramount importance. Patient symptoms and physical signs are often unreliable indexes of true hydration status.

SUMMARY

Over the past decades, a quest for a valid, reproducible, and easily applicable technique to assess hydration status is taking place. Among existing techniques, inferior vena cava diameter measurements with echocardiography and natriuretic peptides such as brain natriuretic peptide and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide were not extensively examined in PD populations; while having certain advantages, their interpretation are complicated by the underlying cardiac status and are not widely available. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) techniques are the most studied tool assessing volume overload in PD. Volume overload assessed with BIA has been associated with technique failure and increased mortality in observational studies, but the results of randomized trials on the value of BIA-based strategies to improve volume-related outcomes are contradictory. Lung ultrasound (US) is a recent technique with the ability to identify volume excess in the critical lung area. Preliminary evidence in PD showed that B-lines from lung US correlate with echocardiographic parameters but not with BIA measurements. This review presents the methods currently used to assess fluid status in PD patients and discusses existing data on their validity, applicability, limitations, and associations with intermediate and hard outcomes in this population. Key Message: No method has proved its value as an intervening tool affecting cardiovascular events, technique, and overall survival in PD patients. As BIA and lung US estimate fluid overload in different compartments of the body, they can be complementary tools for volume status assessment.

A comparative study of ambulatory central hemodynamics and arterial stiffness parameters in peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis patients

BACKGROUND

Ambulatory pulse-wave velocity (PWV), augmentation pressure, and augmentation index (AIx) are associated with increased cardiovascular events and death in hemodialysis. The intermittent nature of hemodialysis generates a distinct ambulatory pattern, with a progressive increase of augmentation pressure and AIx during the interdialytic interval. No study so far has compared the ambulatory course of central hemodynamics and PWV between peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis patients.

METHODS

Thirty-eight patients under peritoneal dialysis and 76 patients under hemodialysis matched in a 1 : 2 ratio for age, sex and dialysis vintage underwent 48-h ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring with the oscillometric Mobil-O-Graph device. Parameters of central hemodynamics [central SBP, DBP and pulse pressure (PP)], wave reflection [AIx, heart rate-adjusted AIx; AIx(75) and augmentation pressure] and PWV were estimated from the 48-h recordings.

RESULTS

Over the total 48-h period, no significant differences were observed between peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis patients in mean levels of central SBP, DBP, PP, augmentation pressure, AIx, AIx(75) and PWV. However, patients under peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis displayed different trajectories in all the above parameters over the course of the recording: in peritoneal dialysis patients no differences were noted in central SBP (125.0 ± 19.2 vs. 126.0 ± 17.8 mmHg, P = 0.25), DBP, PP, augmentation pressure (13.0 ± 6.8 vs. 13.7 ± 7. mmHg, P = 0.15), AIx(75) (25.9 ± 6.9 vs. 26.3 ± 7.8%, P = 0.54) and PWV (9.5 ± 2.1 vs. 9.6 ± 2.1 m/s, P = 0.27) from the first to the second 24-h period of the recording. In contrast, hemodialysis patients showed significant increases in all these parameters from the first to second 24 h (SBP: 119.5 ± 14.4 vs. 124.6 ± 15.0 mmHg, P < 0.001; augmentation pressure: 10.9 ± 5.3 vs. 13.1 ± 6.3 mmHg, P < 0.001; AIx(75): 24.7 ± 7.6 vs. 27.4 ± 7.9%, P < 0.001; PWV: 9.1 ± 1.8 vs. 9.3 ± 1.8 m/s, P < 0.001). Peritoneal dialysis patients had numerically higher levels than hemodialysis patients in all the above parameters during all periods studied and especially during the first 24-h.

CONCLUSION

Central BP, wave reflection indices and PWV during a 48-h recording are steady in peritoneal dialysis but gradually increase in hemodialysis patients. During all studied periods, peritoneal dialysis patients have numerically higher levels of all studied parameters, a fact that could relate to higher cardiovascular risk.

Comparison of visceral, general and central obesity indices in the prediction of metabolic syndrome in maintenance hemodialysis patients

PURPOSE

We aimed to compare the predictive ability of the anthropometric indices reflecting general, central and visceral obesity for identification of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients.

METHODS

A multicenter, cross-sectional study that consisted of 1603 adult MHD patients (54.6 ± 16 years) was conducted in Guizhou Province, Southwest China. Eight anthropometric obesity indexes including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-height ratio (WHtR), conicity index (Ci) and visceral adiposity index (VAI), lipid accumulation product (LAP), a body shape index (ABSI) and body roundness index (BRI) were recorded. MetS was defined based on the criteria of the International Diabetes Federation. Participants were categorized into four groups according to quartiles of different obesity indices. Binary logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the associations between the eight obesity parameters and MetS. Receiver operator curve (ROC) analyses were used to identify the best predictor of MetS.

RESULTS

The eight anthropometric obesity indexes were independently associated with MetS risk, even after adjustment for age, sex, educational status and history of smoking. The ROC analysis revealed that all the eight obesity indices included in the study were able to discriminate MetS [all area under the ROC curves (AUCs) > 0.6, P < 0.05]. LAP showed the highest AUC and according to the maximum Youden indexes, the cut off values for men and women were 27.29 and 36.45, respectively. The AUCs of LAP, VAI, ABSI, BRI, WC, WHtR, Ci and BMI were 0.88, 0.87, 0.60, 0.78, 0.79, 0.78, 0.69 and 0.76 for men, and 0.87, 0.85, 0.65, 0.79, 0.81, 0.79, 0.73 and 0.76 for women, respectively. There was no significant difference in the AUC value between LAP and VAI, BRI/WHtR and BMI in men and between BRI/WHtR and BMI in women. The AUC value for WHtR was equal to that for BRI in identifying MetS.

CONCLUSIONS

Visceral obesity marker LAP followed by VAI was the most effective predictor of MetS while ABSI followed by CI was the weakest indicator for the screening of MetS in MHD patients. BRI could be an alternative obesity measure to WHtR in assessment of MetS. LAP may be a simple and useful screening tool to identify individuals at high risk of MetS particularly in middle-aged and elderly Chinese MHD patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level V, descriptive study.

[Natriuretic peptides in dialysis: From theory to clinical practice]

Cardiologists and emergency-wards physicians are used to check natriuretic peptides serum level, mainly B-type natriuretic peptide and N-terminal pro-Brain natriuretic peptide for acute cardiac failure diagnosis. Due to their accumulation in chronic kidney disease and their elimination by dialysis, natriuretic peptides sampling remains debatable in chronic kidney disease patients. In dialysis patients, high natriuretic peptides values are associated with mortality, left ventricular hypertrophy and cardiac failure. However, a single value cannot provide a reliable diagnosis. Our clinical practice is as follows: First, we prefer B-type natriuretic peptide to N-terminal pro-Brain natriuretic peptide because of its shorter half-life, with less impact of renal function and dialysis, making its interpretation easier in case of advanced chronic kidney disease or in dialysis patients; second, we define a reference value of B-type natriuretic peptide at dry weight from serial measurements; third, the B-type natriuretic peptide changes are interpreted according to extracellular fluid and cardiac status, but also from the arteriovenous fistula blood flow. In stable dialysis patients, B-type natriuretic peptide is sampled monthly and weekly in unstable patients. We illustrate our experience using clinical cases of overhydration, new cardiac disease onset, hypovolemia and arteriovenous fistula with high blood flow. Longitudinal follow-up of B-type natriuretic peptide is an important advance in dialysis patients in order to detect and treat extracellular fluid variations and cardiac disease status early, both important factors associated with hard outcomes.

Blood pressure targets and pharmacotherapy for hypertensive patients on hemodialysis

INTRODUCTION

Hypertension is highly prevalent in patients with end-stage kidney disease on hemodialysis and is often not well controlled. Blood pressure (BP) levels before and after hemodialysis have a U-shaped relationship with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. Although antihypertensive drugs are recommended for patients in whom BP cannot be controlled appropriately by non-pharmacological interventions, large-scale randomized controlled clinical trials are lacking.

AREAS COVERED

The authors review the pharmacotherapy used in hypertensive patients on dialysis, primarily focusing on reports published since 2000. An electronic search of MEDLINE was conducted using relevant key search terms, including 'hypertension', 'pharmacotherapy', 'dialysis', 'kidney disease', and 'antihypertensive drug'. Systematic and narrative reviews and original investigations were retrieved in our research.

EXPERT OPINION

When a drug is administered to patients on dialysis, the comorbidities and characteristics of each drug, including its dialyzability, should be considered. Pharmacological lowering of BP in hypertensive patients on hemodialysis is associated with improvements in mortality. β-blockers should be considered first-line agents and calcium channel blockers as second-line therapy. Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors have not shown superiority to other antihypertensive drugs for patients on hemodialysis.

Uncertainties in BP management in dialysis patients

Hypertension in dialysis patients is extremely common. In this article, we review the current evidence for blood pressure (BP) goals in hemodialysis patients, and consider the effectiveness of interventions by which BP may be lowered, including manipulation of dietary and dialysate sodium; optimization of extracellular water; prolongation of dialysis time; and antihypertensive medication. Although two meta-analyses suggest lowering BP using antihypertensive drugs might be beneficial in reducing cardiovascular events and mortality, there are insufficient rigorously designed trials in hypertensive hemodialysis populations to determine preferred antihypertensive drug classes. We suggest aiming for predialysis systolic BP between 130 and 159 mm Hg, while at the same time acknowledge the significant limitations of the data upon which it is based. We conclude by summarizing current knowledge as regards management of hypertension in the peritoneal dialysis population and make recommendations for future research in this field.

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring over 24 h: A Latin American Society of Hypertension position paper-accessibility, clinical use and cost effectiveness of ABPM in Latin America in year 2020

Accurate office blood pressure measurement remains crucial in the diagnosis and management of hypertension worldwide, including Latin America (LA). Office blood pressure (OBP) measurement is still the leading technique in LA for screening and diagnosis of hypertension, monitoring of treatment, and long-term follow-up. Despite this, due to the increasing awareness of the limitations affecting OBP and to the accumulating evidence on the importance of ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM), as a complement of OBP in the clinical approach to the hypertensive patient, a progressively greater attention has been paid worldwide to the information on daytime and nighttime BP patterns offered by 24-h ABPM in the diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic management of hypertension. In LA countries, most of the Scientific Societies of Hypertension and/or Cardiology have issued guidelines for hypertension care, and most of them include a special section on ABPM. Also, full guidelines on ABPM are available. However, despite the available evidence on the advantages of ABPM for the diagnosis and management of hypertension in LA, availability of ABPM is often restricted to cities with large population, and access to this technology by lower-income patients is sometimes limited by its excessive cost. The authors hope that this document might stimulate health authorities in each LA Country, as well as in other countries in the world, to regulate ABPM access and to widen the range of patients able to access the benefits of this technique.

The relationship between body mass index and blood pressure in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis: A reverse epidemiology in Jakarta, Indonesia

In the general population, obesity is positively correlated with hypertension. On the other hand, there was hypothesis of "reverse epidemiology" in the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure (BP) of hemodialysis (HD) patients. This study aimed to investigate the "reverse epidemiology" of the relationship between the two variables in Jakarta, Indonesia. Cross-sectional study was conducted at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Koja District Hospital, and Cengkareng District Hospital in July 2018. Total sampling was performed with a total of 525 HD patients aged >18 years. All data were analyzed from the medical records. Of 525 patients, 27.4% were obese. The post hoc analyses showed that obese patients had significantly lower post-HD systolic BP (P = 0.006) and diastolic BP (P = 0.004) than the normal-weight patients. The Chi-square analyses showed that the overweight group [odds ratio (OR) = 0.53; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.31-0.87; P = 0.011] and the obese group (OR = 0. 63; 95% CI 0.400.97; P= 0.038) had significant protective effect (OR <1) on the post-HD hypertension. Being obese was a strong predictor for reduced BP (coefficient β = -0.02; P = 0.031). BMI is inversely associated with BP in patients undergoing chronic HD.

Pharmacotherapy of hypertension in patients with pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease

INTRODUCTION

Hypertension is the most common co-morbidity in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), with prevalence gradually increasing across CKD Stages to the extent that about 90% of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients are hypertensives. Several factors contribute to blood pressure (BP) elevation and guide the therapeutic interventions that should be employed in these patients.

AREAS COVERED

This review summarizes the existing data for the management of hypertension, regarding optimal BP targets and the use of major antihypertensive classes in patients with CKD.

EXPERT OPINION

Management of hypertension in CKD requires both lowering BP levels and reducing proteinuria to minimize the risk of both CKD progression and cardiovascular disease. In this respect, aggressive control of office BP to levels <130/80 mmHg has long been proposed for patients with proteinuric nephropathies. Following evidence from recent studies that confirmed significant reductions in renal and cardiovascular outcomes with strict BP control, most, but not all, of international guidelines, suggest such BP goals for all hypertensive patients, including those with CKD. Use of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockers is the treatment of choice for patients with proteinuric nephropathies, while, in most patients with CKD, combination treatment with two, three, or more antihypertensive agents is often required to control BP.

Anemia and the use of antihypertensive medications in hemodialysis patients: multicenter retrospective observational study

Abstract. We hypothesized that the use of antihypertensive medications in patients treated by hemodialysis (HD) may interfere with the activity of erythropoietin and leads to an increase in the dose of erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs). The aim of our study was to analyze the impact of antihypertensive medications on the effectiveness of anemia treatment. Methods. We conducted a multicenter retrospective observational study. The archival medical data from 379 patients treated by HD or hemodiafiltration (HDF) were used. The medical records of 142 patients were excluded from the study. The study group consisted of 237 patients: 108 (45.6%) women and 129 (54.4%) men, with an average age of 54 [41-62.5] years. Results. The analysis of the mean hemoglobin (Hb) stratified by the administration of antihypertensive medications in the dynamics of dialysis treatment demonstrated a significant impact of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (F = 3.97; p = 0.048) and amlodipine (F = 6.9; p = 0.01) on the effectiveness of anemia correction. The significant effect of amlodipine on the need to increase the dosage of iron-containing medications (OR = 3.9; 95% CI (1.27-12.06), p = 0.002; RR = 1.9 95% CI (1.27-2.9) and continuous erythropoietin receptor activator (CERA) (OR = 5.2, 95% CI (1.2-24.4), p = 0.03; RR = 1.3 95% CI (1, 08-1.6), p = 0.006) weas showed by logistic regression analysis. The increased risk of failure to achieve of the target Hb level in HD patients received amlodipine was confirmed by Cox regression model (HR = 2.7 (95% CI 1.5-4.7)). Conclusions: The results of our study demonstrated a significant increase in the frequency of appointment and amount of anti-anemia therapy in HD patients when amlodipine is co-administered. Follow-up studies to determine the effect of amlodipine mechanism for anemia will avoid unreasonable prescriptions for the treatment of НD patients. Conflict of interest statement: the authors declared no competing interests.

Antihypertensive Agents in the Dialysis Patient

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Hypertension and antihypertensive drug utilization are remarkably prevalent in ESRD patients. Management of blood pressure elevation in this population is complicated by many factors, including a multidimensional etiology, challenges in obtaining accurate and appropriately timed blood pressure measurements, highly specific drug dosing requirements, and a paucity of outcomes-based evidence to guide management decisions. The purpose of this review is to summarize and apply knowledge from existing clinical trials to enhance safe and effective use of antihypertensive agents in dialysis patients.

RECENT FINDINGS

Two meta-analyses have established the benefit of antihypertensive therapy in ESRD. Data supporting the use of one antihypertensive class over another is less robust; however, beta-blockers have more clearly demonstrated improved cardiovascular outcomes in prospective randomized trials. Interdialytic home blood pressure monitoring has been demonstrated to be better associated with cardiovascular outcomes than clinic pre- or post-dialysis readings and should ideally be considered as a routine part of blood pressure management in this population. As data from small trials provides limited guidance for the management of hypertension in ESRD, more research is needed to guide medication selection and utilization. Specifically, large prospective randomized trails comparing cardiovascular outcomes of various medication classes and differing blood pressure targets are needed.

Blood pressure target for the dialysis patient

The appropriate blood pressure (BP) target for dialysis patients remains controversial. Although there have been remarkable advances in this area in the general population, extrapolation of these data to dialysis patients is not possible. Observational studies in dialysis patients suggest that low BP is associated with worse outcomes. However, this is likely a result of confounding, considering that among dialysis patients with fewer cardiovascular comorbidities and longer survival, a more linear relationship exists between BP and mortality. Use of home BP measurements and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) measurements are more useful from a prognostic standpoint than in-center predialysis BP measurements. Large clinical trial data are, however, lacking and firm recommendations on BP targets for dialysis patients are not possible.