Malignant hypertension: a type of IgA nephropathy manifestation with poor prognosis.

Abstract

 Malignant hypertension (MHT) is an uncommon clinical manifestation of IgA Nephropathy (IgAN). Its prevalence, pathogenesis and evolution are not well known.   We performed a descriptive and retrospective study to report the clinical characteristics and evolution of thirteen patients diagnosed as having IgA nephropathy by renal biopsy in our hospital who developed MHT (IgAN-MHT).   The prevalence of MHT in our IgAN patients was 7% (13/186). The mean age was 37±12 years and 84% were males. Mean systolic/diastolic blood pressure at presentation were 219±32/132±18mmHg, respectively. Renal function impairment was detected at admission in all the patients, with a mean serum creatinine of 4.73±3.12mg/dL. No patient showed analytical data that suggested thrombotic microangiopathy. Renal biopsies showed mild chronicity lesions and only four patients presented features of thrombotic microangiopathy. All patients were treated with renin-angiotensin-aldosterone blockers and two received steroids. They all showed a progressive loss of renal function. At the end of follow up one patient had died, ten were on chronic dialysis and two presented chronic kidney disease stage 3b. Renal survival was 69% and 35% at 3 and 6 years, respectively. Six patients received a kidney transplant: IgAN relapsed in four patients. One of them presented a new episode of MHT associated with a HELLP syndrome.   Malignant hypertension is a form of IgAN clinical presentation having a remarkably worse renal outcome and without specific effective treatment.