Rigorous Blood Pressure Control Research Articles

Impact of comorbid coronary artery disease on short and medium-term outcomes after carotid artery stenting

Abstract Background Current recommendations acknowledge carotid artery disease as a clinical criteria for very high cardiovascular risk and carotid artery stenting (CAS) as one of the main therapeutic options for carotid artery stenosis. Carotid artery disease is often present in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), presumably enhancing the cardiovascular risk of these patients. In this study, we aimed to appraise the prevalence and prognostic effects of comorbid CAD diagnosis in patients with significant carotid artery disease undergoing CAS. Methods We conducted a single-center retrospective analysis including consecutive patients that underwent CAS, between January 2007 and August 2023. Our main objective was to analyze the association of comorbid CAD in patients undergoing CAS, regarding 30-day major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), 30-day global mortality, 1-year global mortality and major periprocedural complications. On a second perspective, we strived to identify if there was any modifiable factor that influenced worse outcomes in these populations, addressed by a Chi-Square Test. Data was collected by the medical team in our Centre, over the years of follow-up. Results A total of 380 patients were enrolled in this study, with a mean age of 72.1±8.3 years and no major differences concerning demographic characteristics. Based on the presence of previous CAD diagnosis, there was no statistical significance in 30-days MACE (p=0.442), 30-days global mortality (p=0.161), 1-year mortality (p=0.658) or periprocedural complications (p=0.062). Despite these results, there was a statistically significant difference in individuals with CAD and comorbid hypertension in 30-days CV death (p=0.002), 30-days global mortality (p=0.007) and 1-year global mortality (p=0.036). Conclusions Comorbid CAD in patients undergoing CAS due to carotid stenosis does not seem to be significantly associated with medium-term adverse events. Nevertheless, the results of this casuistry support the importance of rigorous blood pressure control in patients with significant carotid artery disease.Baseline CharacteristicsStudy outcomes

Unveiling the pathogenesis and therapeutic approaches for diabetic nephropathy: insights from panvascular diseases.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) represents a significant microvascular complication in diabetes, entailing intricate molecular pathways and mechanisms associated with cardiorenal vascular diseases. Prolonged hyperglycemia induces renal endothelial dysfunction and damage via metabolic abnormalities, inflammation, and oxidative stress, thereby compromising hemodynamics. Concurrently, fibrotic and sclerotic alterations exacerbate glomerular and tubular injuries. At a macro level, reciprocal communication between the renal microvasculature and systemic circulation establishes a pernicious cycle propelling disease progression. The current management approach emphasizes rigorous control of glycemic levels and blood pressure, with renin-angiotensin system blockade conferring renoprotection. Novel antidiabetic agents exhibit renoprotective effects, potentially mediated through endothelial modulation. Nonetheless, emerging therapies present novel avenues for enhancing patient outcomes and alleviating the disease burden. A precision-based approach, coupled with a comprehensive strategy addressing global vascular risk, will be pivotal in mitigating the cardiorenal burden associated with diabetes.

Glucocorticoids for the treatment of IgA nephropathy: pros and cons. Research data and own experience

IgA nephropathy is the most common pattern of primary glomerular diseases worldwide and remains a leading cause of chronic kidney disease and kidney failure. The incidence of IgA nephropathy is 2.5 per 100,000 population per year. Presentation ranges from isolated haematuria to significant proteinuria, acute kidney injury and even chronic kidney disease. The 10-year risk of progression to end stage kidney disease or halving of GFR is 26 %. The basis of management of IgA nephropathy is goal-directed supportive care in the form of rigorous blood pressure control, use of renin-angiotensin system blockers in the maximum tolerated dose, and a focus on life-style modification that includes smoking cessation, weight management, and restriction of sodium intake. Ho­wever, supportive therapy does not always achieve its goals and cannot affect the autoimmune pathogenesis of the disease, while the role of immunosuppressants and systemic glucocorticoids remains controversial. This review presents an analysis of clinical trials and our own experience regarding the role of steroids and supportive therapy in the treatment of IgA nephropathy.

Embedding guidelines into clinical practice

Abstract Type 2 diabetes is a complex, chronic illness requiring continuous medical care with multifactorial risk‐reduction strategies beyond glycaemic control. Cardiovascular and metabolic derangements individually and interdependently lead to a substantial increase in cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality. Chronic kidney disease is also associated with increased risks of cardiovascular morbidity, premature mortality and decreased quality of life. Established and evolving treatment strategies including moderate physical activity, weight reduction, rigorous blood pressure control, correction of dyslipidaemia, and glycaemic control have proven beneficial in reversing these abnormal responses and decreasing the cardiovascular risk. Most patients with type 2 diabetes are treated by their primary health care team who need guidance in choosing the best treatment regimens for their patients since the number of glucose‐lowering agents is rapidly increasing, as is the amount of clinical data regarding these drugs. Early intervention models of care improve glycaemic, cardiovascular and patient outcomes. Copyright © 2023 John Wiley & Sons.

Blood pressure in heart failure management and prevention.

Hypertension is a leading cause of heart failure and other cardiovascular diseases. Its role in the pathogenesis of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) differs from that in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Moreover, rigorous blood pressure control may reduce the incidence of heart failure. However, once heart failure develops, prognosis is affected by blood pressure, which may differ between patients with and without heart failure. Therefore, the association between guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) for heart failure and its uptitration must be considered for blood pressure management and should not be overlooked. Heart failure medications affect the blood pressure and efficacy per baseline blood pressure value. This review discusses the potential mechanisms by which hypertension leads to HFrEF or HFpEF, the impact of hypertension on incident heart failure, and the recommended approaches for blood pressure management in patients with heart failure. Comparison between patients with and without heart failure regarding blood pressure The association between CV events and SBP is linear in patients without heart failure; however, it becomes J-shaped or inverse linear in those with heart failure. The management of BP, including optimal BP or pharmacotherapy, differs between the two populations. ACEi angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, ARB angiotensin II receptor blockers; ARNi angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors, BB beta-blockers, BP blood pressure, CV cardiovascular, DASH Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, GDMT guideline-directed medical therapy, HF heart failure, HFrEF heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, MRA mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, SBP systolic blood pressure, SGLT2i sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors.

Cardiometabolic Syndrome : An Emerging Global Health Issue

Cardio metabolic syndrome (CMS) is a combination of metabolic dysfunctions characterized by insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, dyslipidemia, hypertension and central obesity. CMS is recognized as a disease entity by the World Health Organization (WHO) and American Society of Endocrinology. CMS represents a constellation of metabolic abnormalities that are risk factors for cardiovascular diseases These cardiovascular and metabolic derangements individually and interdependently lead to increases in cerebrovascular disease(CVD) morbidity and mortality, making the CMS an established and strong risk factor for premature CVD. Data found that the prevalence of cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS) is increasing in all age groups, both in men and women from the latest National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES).Alteration in fatty acid metabolism, such as excessive fatty acid release in the plasma is likely to contribute to these metabolic abnormalities. There is an established and proven benefits in reversing abnormal responses and decreasing cardiovascular risks by the treatment strategies including moderate physical activity, weight reduction, rigorous blood pressure control, correction of dyslipidemia and glycaemic control. J Bangladesh Coll Phys Surg 2022; 40: 287-291

Lenvatinib Therapy for Advanced Thyroid Cancer: Real-Life Data on Safety, Efficacy, and Some Rare Side Effects.

ContextThe SELECT trial led to the approval of lenvatinib for the treatment of advanced radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid carcinomas (DTCs) but also revealed an important adverse event (AE) profile which may limit its use in clinical practice.ObjectiveWe aim to describe the efficacy and toxicity profiles of lenvatinib in real life.MethodsWe included all patients who received lenvatinib for an advanced DTC at our institution, enrolling 27 patients. We reviewed retrospectively electronic medical records to assess efficacy and AEs.ResultsAmong the 24 patients with evaluation of tumor response during treatment, overall response rate (ORR) was 37.0% (95% CI, 19.4%-57.6%), and disease control rate was 85.2% (95% CI, 66.3%-95.8%). The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 12 months (95% CI, 7.5-16.5]. The most prevalent AEs were hypertension (77.8%), fatigue (55.6%), and weight loss (51.9%). At least one grade ≥ 3 AE was experienced by 25/27 patients (92.6%), mostly hypertension (59.3%). Lenvatinib was discontinued due to AEs in 13/27 patients (48.1%). Interestingly, 1 patient experienced a grade 4 posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, and another developed a Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.ConclusionThe safety profile of lenvatinib in our cohort was similar to that reported in the literature, with a predominance of hypertension. Rigorous blood pressure control is therefore essential to avoid discontinuing therapy. We also report 2 severe and rarely described AEs that physicians should watch for. As for efficacy, although less than in the SELECT trial, ORR and PFS were similar to other real-life studies.

Endocannabinoid System in Polycystic Kidney Disease

Introduction: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a commonly inherited disorder characterized by renal cyst formation. A major pathological feature of ADPKD is the development of interstitial inflammation. The endocannabinoid (EC) system is present in the kidney and has recently emerged as an important player in inflammation and the pathogenesis of progressive kidney disease. Methods: Data on ECs were collected using a validated mass spectrometry assay from a well-characterized cohort of 102 ADPKD patients (at baseline and after 2- and 4 years on standard vs. rigorous blood-pressure control) and compared to 100 healthy subjects. Results: Compared to healthy individuals, we found higher interleukins-6 and -1b as well as reduced plasma levels of anandamide (AEA), 2-arachidonoyl­glycerol (2-AG), and their congeners in ADPKD patients. Baseline AEA concentration negatively associated with the progression of ADPKD as expressed by the yearly percent change in height-corrected total kidney volume and positively with the yearly change in renal function (measured as estimated glomerular filtration rate, ΔeGFR). AEA analog palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is also associated positively with the yearly change in eGFR. Discussion and Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that ADPKD patients present with lower levels of ECs and that reestablishing the normality of the renal EC system via augmentation of AEA, PEA, and 2-AG levels, either through the increase of their synthesis or through a reduction of their degradation, could be beneficial and may present a promising therapeutic target in said patients.

Sentinel Angiographic Signs of Cerebral Hyperperfusion after Angioplasty and Stenting of Intracranial Atherosclerotic Stenosis: A Technical Note.

Cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome is a serious complication of endovascular angioplasty and stent placement for long-standing intracranial stenosis, resulting in neurologic dysfunction, seizure, or reperfusion hemorrhage. Rigorous control of blood pressure is commonly used in the perioperative period to prevent cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome, but the optimal blood pressure is often arbitrary. We describe the angiographic features that reflect impaired cerebral autoregulation and microvascular transit abnormality, which may be used to gauge the optimal blood pressure parameters in the immediate postintervention period for prevention of cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome.

Blood Pressure Control and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation (From the ORBIT-AF Registry)

Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and its association with clinical outcomes in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients in community practice are poorly characterized. In patients with AF, we sought to (1) examine the prevalence of baseline uncontrolled hypertension and the overall change in SBP control, (2) identify predictors of uncontrolled SBP over 2 years of follow-up, and (3) determine the relation between SBP and clinical outcomes. We analyzed 10,132 patients with AF at 176 clinics in the ORBIT-AF registry between 2010 and 2014, classified as: (1) no history of hypertension; (2) controlled hypertension (baseline SBP <140 mm Hg); (3) and uncontrolled hypertension (baseline SBP >140 mm Hg). Predictors of SBP >140 mm Hg at baseline or in follow-up were identified with pooled logistic regression. Random effects Cox regression models were used to compare cardiovascular outcomes and major bleeding as a function of continuous, time-dependent SBP. Overall 8,383 (83%) of patients with AF had hypertension. Of these, 24.2% (n = 2032) had uncontrolled baseline SBP, with little change over 2 years. Predictors of elevated follow-up SBP included uncontrolled baseline SBP, females, previous percutaneous coronary intervention, and diabetes. For every 5 mm Hg increase in follow-up SBP, the adjusted risk of stroke or systemic embolism or transient ischemic attack (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01 to 1.08, p = 0.01), myocardial infarction (aHR 1.05, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.11, p = 0.04), and major bleeding (aHR 1.03, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.06, p = 0.04) increased modestly. In conclusion, in patients with AF, higher SBP was associated with increasing adverse events; therefore, more rigorous blood pressure control should be emphasized.

Prognostic enrichment design in clinical trials for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease: the HALT-PKD clinical trial

Patients with mild autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) are less likely to be informative in randomized clinical trials (RCTs). We previously developed an imaging classification of ADPKD (typical diffuse cyst distribution Class 1A-E and atypical cyst distribution Class 2) for prognostic enrichment design in RCTs. We investigated whether using this classification would have increased the power to detect a beneficial treatment effect of rigorous blood pressure (BP) control on HALT-PKD participants with early disease (Study A). Post hoc analysis of the early disease HALT-PKD study, an RCT that studied the effect of rigorous versus standard BP control on rates of total kidney volume (TKV) increase and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline in ADPKD patients with eGFR >60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Five hundred and fifty-one patients were classified by two observers (98.2% agreement) into Class 1A (6.2%), 1B (20.3%), 1C (34.1%), 1D (22.1%), 1E (11.8%) and 2 (5.4%). The TKV increase and eGFR decline became steeper from Class 1A through 1E. Rigorous BP control had been shown to be associated with slower TKV increase, without a significant overall effect on the rate of eGFR decline (faster in the first 4 months and marginally slower thereafter). Merging Classes 1A and 2 (lowest severity), 1B and 1C (intermediate severity) and 1D and 1E (highest severity) detected stronger beneficial effects on TKV increase and eGFR decline in Class 1D and E with a smaller number of patients. Strategies for prognostic enrichment, such as image classification, should be used in the design of RCTs for ADPKD to increase their power and reduce their cost.

P95. Perinatal outcome of pregnant with severe preeclampsia and gestational diabetes mellitus in Rondônia – Brazil: Case report

Introduction The appropriate management of pregnant women with comorbidities is a routine challenge, requiring efforts to obtain a favorable outcome. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with increased perinatal mortality and perinatal morbidity, with high rates of macrosomia, birth trauma, metabolic, hematologic and respiratory complications. The risk reduction for patients with preeclampsia requires rigorous clinical control of blood pressure (BP) (BRAZIL, 2011). Case report Patient F.R.A. 34 years old, brown, multiparous (5 pregnancies, 2 vaginal deliveries and 2 miscarriages), with a history of GDM and abortion in previous pregnancy without comorbidities, accompanied by pre-natal high-risk service, held 9 queries, presented at the tenth week of gestation one fasting blood glucose of 105 mg/d, conducted the oral glucose tolerance test with 75 mg, which submitted the relevant values: 96 mg/dL, 146 mg/dL, 131 mg/dL. She made use of NPH insulin, but has abandoned use in the last month of pregnancy, and there were no other changes in the other prenatal tests. She was admitted in a tertiary center at 30 weeks and 3 days pregnancy (calculated in ultrasonography exam) due to hypertensive frame (150 × 100 mmHg), referring pain in the epigastric region, fetal movements present and without uterine activity. The patient underwent ultrasonography obstetric showed intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), oligohydramnios and small placenta. Furthermore, the umbilical artery Doppler presented diastole zero and middle cerebral artery with decreased vascular resistance. The ductus venosus presented wave “A” positive above the baseline. During hospitalization was monitored for blood pressure and blood glucose without amendments. It was pointed out by cesarean section DMG, IUGR and zero diastole. The newborn (NB), male, weight 830 g, cried, presented tone and did not require resuscitation. The Capurro calculated was 34 weeks and five days, with no malformations. The NB evolved with respiratory distress, requiring intubation and intensive care. Postpartum was not performed glycemic control of the patient and the same was discharged after two days. Relevance and comments The risk of preterm birth and perinatal mortality are added in association significant obstetric pathologies. The quality of care is critical to minimize adverse outcomes and maternal effects as pre-eclampsia and polyhydramnios, in addition to fetal repercussions example of prematurity and perinatal mortality.

Polycystic kidney disease. HALTing PKD progression--revival of blood pressure control.

New research suggests that rigorous blood pressure control is beneficial in early autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Although a positive effect on the rate of decline of estimated glomerular filtration rate remains to be demonstrated, this study is likely to change current treatment strategies for young patients with ADPKD.

Blood Pressure in Early Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease

BackgroundHypertension is common in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and is associated with increased total kidney volume, activation of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system, and progression of kidney disease.MethodsIn this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we randomly assigned 558 hypertensive participants with ADPKD (15 to 49 years of age, with an estimated glomerular filtration rate [GFR] >60 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 of body-surface area) to either a standard blood-pressure target (120/70 to 130/80 mm Hg) or a low blood-pressure target (95/60 to 110/75 mm Hg) and to either an angiotensin-converting–enzyme inhibitor (lisinopril) plus an angiotensin-receptor blocker (telmisartan) or lisinopril plus placebo. The primary outcome was the annual percentage change in the total kidney volume.ResultsThe annual percentage increase in total kidney volume was significantly lower in the low-blood-pressure group than in the standard-blood-pressure group (5.6% vs. 6.6%, P=0.006), without significant differences between the lisinopril–telmisartan group and the lisinopril–placebo group. The rate of change in estimated GFR was similar in the two medication groups, with a negative slope difference in the short term in the low-blood-pressure group as compared with the standard-blood-pressure group (P<0.001) and a marginally positive slope difference in the long term (P=0.05). The left-ventricular-mass index decreased more in the low-blood-pressure group than in the standard-blood-pressure group (−1.17 vs. −0.57 g per square meter per year, P<0.001); urinary albumin excretion was reduced by 3.77% with the low-pressure target and increased by 2.43% with the standard target (P<0.001). Dizziness and light-headedness were more common in the low-blood-pressure group than in the standard-blood-pressure group (80.7% vs. 69.4%, P=0.002).ConclusionsIn early ADPKD, the combination of lisinopril and telmisartan did not significantly alter the rate of increase in total kidney volume. As compared with standard blood-pressure control, rigorous blood-pressure control was associated with a slower increase in total kidney volume, no overall change in the estimated GFR, a greater decline in the left-ventricular-mass index, and greater reduction in urinary albumin excretion. (Funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and others; HALT-PKD [Study A] ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00283686.)

A comprehensive management of hypertension among patients with metabolic syndrome: an evidence-based update

Individuals with hypertension and metabolic syndrome are at increased risk of developing future morbidities. Therefore, an evidence-based comprehensive approach is required. It is recommended to start with lifestyle modification as the first step, then followed by antihypertensive drugs. Weight loss through decreased caloric intake and increased excercise have been proven to yield a better control over diabetes, blood pressure, and lipid profile. Inhibitor of renin-angiotensin is the recommended first-line drugs for this population, while β blocker and diuretic should remain as the second line drugs due to increased risk of developing new onset diabetes with these drugs. A more rigorous blood pressure control is reasonable with a target of < 130/80. A comprehensive management which include good control over blood pressure, weight, blood glucose, and lipid profile, may reduce future morbidities among hypertensive individuals with metabolic syndrome. (Med J Indones. 2013;22:189-94. doi: 10.13181/mji.v22i3.590) Keywords: Cardiovascular, diabetes, hypertension, metabolic syndrome

Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction by tissue Doppler echocardiography in pediatric chronic kidney disease

Myocardial dysfunction is common in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and related to poor outcomes. New non-invasive methods to assess cardiac function have been introduced, but comparative studies evaluating their clinical usefulness in pediatric CKD are lacking. We studied left ventricular (LV) function in pediatric CKD and renal transplant patients, comparing conventional pulse-wave Doppler echocardiography (cPWD) with newer tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and relating the results to known cardiovascular risk factors. The study included 34 children/adolescents with CKD stages 2-5, 44 renal transplant patients and 19 patients with a normal renal function. The mean age was 11.4 (range 0.8-18.8) years. Both patient groups had significantly lower LV diastolic function than those with a normal renal function. The most sensitive determinants were TDI E'/A' and cPWD E/TDI E' ratios. In a stepwise linear regression analysis, high blood pressure, young age and the presence of albuminuria all independently predicted LV diastolic function. Our study confirms the high prevalence of LV diastolic dysfunction in pediatric CKD patients and following renal transplantation, where TDI appears to be more sensitive than cPWD in assessing early myocardial dysfunction. Our results also underline the importance of preventive measures, such as rigorous blood pressure control, in pediatric CKD.

Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in ADPKD: Changing Demographics

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) has been recognized as an early and important complication in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). LVH is associated with arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, and increased cardiac mortality. The increase in left ventricular mass is attributed to the compensatory myocardial remodeling associated with systemic hypertension, which is also highly prevalent in those with ADPKD. Several observational studies over the past decades using echocardiography have estimated the prevalence of LVH in adults to range from 20-40%. More recently, the HALT-PKD study detected an LVH prevalence of less than 4% using magnetic resonance imaging. Some of the differences may relate to the imaging modality, variations in parameters used to define LVH, or demographic differences in the study populations. Nonetheless, there likely exists a shift in the pathophysiology of LVH in patients with ADPKD. Factors that explain this evolving trend include earlier detection and treatment of hypertension, more rigorous blood pressure control, and an increased use of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) antagonists. The use of RAAS inhibitors has been shown to induce regression of LVH, and this may continue to play an important role in the cardiovascular risk management in patients with ADPKD. The results of ongoing studies will help elucidate these relationships.

Blood pressure control status and effects of pravastatin on cardiovascular events occurrence in patients with dyslipidaemia

Dyslipidaemia is often associated with hypertension, and many clinical trials have shown that lipid-lowering therapy and strict blood pressure (BP) control are important for preventing cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, few reports describe the effect of statins on CVD occurrence in relation to long-term BP control. In the present analysis, we investigated the effects of baseline BP and follow-up BP control on the occurrence of CVD in patients enrolled in the MEGA Study. We investigated whether BP values provide more accurate prediction of the occurrence of CVD, including cerebrovascular disease/transischemic attack (CVA/TIA), and the effect of pravastatin on CVA/TIA. The risk for CVA/TIA and other CVD increased significantly (P≤0.001) as the severity of hypertension increased. In contrast, pravastatin reduced the onset of CVA/TIA, regardless of the BP controlled. The mean BP was a more accurate predictor of CVD than a one-time BP value. In patients with mild-to-moderate dyslipidaemia, elevated BP increases the risk for CVA/TIA and other CVD, and rigorous BP control was important for preventing CVD, in particular CVA/TIA. The 12-month mean BP is useful to avoid attenuation to determine the association between CVD and BP. Pravastatin prevented CVA/TIA, regardless of BP controlled.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome after liver transplantation in children: A rare complication related to calcineurin inhibitor effects

PRES is a neuroclinical and radiological syndrome that results from treatment with calcineurin inhibitor immunosuppressives. Severe hypertension is commonly present, but some patients may be normotensive. We report herein two children who received liver transplants, as treatment for biliary atresia in the first case and for Alagille's syndrome in the second one. In the early postoperative, both patients presented hypertension and seizures. In both cases, the image findings suggested the diagnosis of PRES. The CT scan showed alterations in the posterior area of the brain, and brain MRI demonstrated parietal and occipital areas of high signal intensity. Both children were treated by switching the immunosuppressive regimen and controlling arterial blood pressure. They displayed full recuperation without any neurologic sequelae. Probably, the pathophysiology of PRES results from sparse sympathetic innervation of the vertebrobasilar circulation, which is responsible for supplying blood to the posterior areas of the brain. In conclusion, all liver-transplanted children who present with neurological symptoms PRES should be considered in the differential diagnosis, although this is a rare complication. As treatment, we recommend rigorous control of arterial blood pressure and switching the immunosuppressive regimen.

Renal protection in diabetes: lessons from ONTARGET®

Hypertension is an important independent risk factor for renal disease. If hypertension and chronic renal disease co-exist, as is common in patients with diabetes mellitus, the risk of cardiovascular disease is heightened. The importance of rigorous blood pressure control is recognized in current guidelines, with a recommended target of office blood pressure of < 130/80 mmHg; although ambulatory blood pressure may be more appropriate in order to identify the 24-hour hypertensive burden. Even lower blood pressure may further reduce the progression of chronic kidney disease, but the incidence of cardiovascular events may increase. Albuminuria not only indicates renal damage, but is also a powerful predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality at least in patients with high cardiovascular risk and potentially pre-existing vascular damage. Management of the multiple factors for renal and cardiovascular disease is mandatory in the diabetic patient. The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays a pivotal role in the progression of renal disease, as well as in hypertension and target-organ damage. The use of agents that target the RAS confer renoprotection in addition to antihypertensive activity. There is extensive evidence of the renoprotective effect of angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), and specifically telmisartan. In addition to providing 24-hour blood pressure control, clinical studies in patients with diabetes show that telmisartan improves renal endothelial function, prevents progression from microalbuminuria to macroalbuminuria, slows the decline in glomerular filtration rate and reduces proteinuria in overt nephropathy. These effects cannot be solely attributed to blood pressure control. In contrast to other members of the ARB class, the renoprotective effect of telmisartan is not confined to the management of diabetic nephropathy; slowing the progression of albuminuria has been demonstrated in the ONgoing Telmisartan Alone and in combination with Ramipril Global Endpoint Trial (ONTARGET®), which included diabetic and non-diabetic patients at high risk of cardiovascular events.