Home blood pressure measurements for managing hypertension in hemodialysis patients.

Home blood pressure (BP) monitoring serves as a practical method to detect changes in BP instead of ambulatory BP monitoring in hemodialysis patients. To evaluate the relationship of reduction in home BP compared to interdialytic ambulatory BP measurements we analyzed the data from the dry-weight reduction in hypertensive hemodialysis patients (DRIP) trial in which 100 patients had their dry weight probed based on clinical sign and symptoms and 50 patients served as controls. We measured home BP 3 times a day for 1 week using a validated oscillometric monitor on 3 occasions at 4-week intervals after randomization.

Dry-weight reduction in hypertensive hemodialysis patients (DRIP): a randomized, controlled trial.

Volume excess is thought to be important in the pathogenesis of hypertension among hemodialysis patients. To determine whether additional volume reduction will result in improvement in blood pressure (BP) among hypertensive patients on hemodialysis and to evaluate the time course of this response, we randomly assigned long-term hypertensive hemodialysis patients to ultrafiltration or control groups. The additional ultrafiltration group (n=100) had the dry weight probed without increasing time or duration of dialysis, whereas the control group (n=50) only had physician visits.

Relationships of N-terminal pro-B-natriuretic peptide and cardiac troponin T to left ventricular mass and function and mortality in asymptomatic hemodialysis patients.

Background: Although the cardiac biomarker troponin T (cTnT) is related strongly to mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease, the independent association of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) and cTnT levels in predicting outcomes is unknown. The objective of this study is to determine factors associated with NT-pro-BNP and cTnT and determine whether these levels are associated with mortality.

Study Design: Cohort study.

Impact of kidney transplantation on the progression of cardiovascular disease.

Kidney transplantation, of all the treatment modalities for end-stage renal disease, affords the greatest potential for prolonged survival and improved quality of life. Great strides in immunosuppressant therapy have improved graft survival and forced clinicians to consider other health-care needs of kidney transplant recipients. Chief among these needs is the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.