Hypertension and end-organ damage in pediatric renal transplantation.

The prevalence of hypertension in pediatric patients with renal transplant (Tx) has not changed for the last three decades, remaining at 50-80%. Long-standing and uncontrolled hypertension is associated with the development of end-organ damage including allograft dysfunction, early cardiomyopathy and premature atherosclerosis. Aggressive treatment of elevated BP is an essential part of Tx care with the goal to delay graft failure and prevent the development of symptomatic cardiovascular disease in young recipients of renal Tx. Copyright 2004 Blackwell Munksgaard