Use of calcium-channel blockers in pediatric renal transplant recipients.

Hypertension (HTN) is a significant problem in pediatric renal transplant (TP) recipients, predisposing the individuals to the development of cardiovascular disease and graft dysfunction. Calcium channel blockers (CCB) are considered excellent agents to treat post-TP HTN. We compared the efficacy and adverse effects of the two most commonly prescribed CCBs in our pediatric renal TP population: nifedipine (Procardia, or P) and amlodipine (Norvasc, or N). All patients (n = 24) had been started on a CCB for systolic (SBP) and/or diastolic BP (DBP) > 95%. There were no other changes in adjunctive antihypertensive medications or doses during the cross-over period. Post-TP, pretreatment (pretx) SBP was 137.6 +/- 10.9 mmHg. The post-treatment SBP were (in mmHg): 128.5 +/- 11.9 (all patients, n = 24) (p = 0.009 vs. pretx); 126.4 +/- 10.0 (P alone, n = 15) (p = 0.007 vs. pretx); 132.8 +/- 14.4 (P + other antihypertensive(s), n = 9) (p = 0.331, NS vs. pretx). The post-TP, pretreatment DBP was 88.2 +/- 11.1 mmHg. The post-treatment DBP were (in mmHg): 78.5 +/- 6.9 (all patients, n = 24) (p = 0.03 vs. pretx); 77.2 +/- 7.4 (P alone, n = 15) (p = 0.008 vs. pretx); 80.7 +/- 6.1 (P + other antihypertensive(s), n = 9) (p = 0.063, NS vs. pretx). P and N were equally effective in reducing SBP (p = 0.843, NS) and DBP (p = 0.612, NS). Cyclosporin A (CyA) dose (p = 0.81) and trough levels (p = 0.19) were similar in P- and N-treated patients. Calculated GFR was virtually identical in P- and N-treated patients (p = 0.89). Patients (or parents of) reported a higher incidence of various side-effects while receiving P, including headache, flushing, dizziness and leg cramps. Furthermore, 22/24 (91.7%) reported some degree of gingival hyperplasia during treatment with P, and all these patients reported a stabilization or reduction of hypertrophy after the switch from P to N. We conclude that CCBs (N) are efficacious drugs for the purpose of BP control and renal protection in pediatric renal TP recipients.