[Type 1 diabetic patients evolution to hypertension].

Purpose: Check the evolution of type 1(T1) diabetic patients to hypertension and prehypertension and baseline factors related to final blood pressure levels (BP).

Methods: Observational study involving 127 T1 diabetic patients submitted to clinical and laboratory evaluation and followed by for 5 (2.4-9.2) years.

Results: From the initially normotensive patients, 21.7% developed prehypertension, 4.7% developed hypertension and 73.6% remained with normal BP. From the prehypertensive patients, 35% returned to normal BP, 50% remained prehypertensive and 15% developed hypertension. The relative risk for hypertension development was 3.2 (0.8-12.3) in the prehypertensive compared to the normotensive group. The prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension increased from 15.7% to 26% and 0.8% to 7% respectively. Levels of serum creatinine predicted final levels of systolic and diastolic BP.

Conclusion: It is emphasized the importance of renal function and BP evaluation even when they are in normal range to minimize the deleterious effects of hypertension in the development of nephropathy and cardiovascular disease.