Hypertension after renal transplantation.

The incidence of hypertension defined as a mean diastolic pressure above 90 mmHg has been evaluated in 85 transplanted patients with a follow-up ranging from 3 to 78 months. The proportion of hypertensive patients rises during the first three months and stabilises subsequently around 60 percent. Over the years hypertension fluctuates so that one-third of the initially hypertensive patients become normotensive, whereas one-third of the initially normotensive patients become hypertensive. The main single aetiological factor is renal failure. No clear relationship was found between prednisolone dosage and hypertension. Renal artery stenosis was found in 2.4 percent of the cases. Finally no single aetiological factor was found in one third of the hypertensive patients. It is speculated that in some of them, minute intrarenal vascular lesions are responsible for the hypertension and lead ultimately to decreased renal function.