Long-term effects of aldosterone blockade in resistant hypertension associated with chronic kidney disease

J Hum Hypertens. 2012 Aug;26(8):502-6. doi: 10.1038/jhh.2011.60. Epub 2011 Jun 16.

Abstract

Hypertension is a major risk factor for the development and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) are effective in the management of resistant hypertension but are not widely used in CKD because of the risk of hyperkalemia. We retrospectively evaluated the long-term effects and safety of MRAs added to a pre-existing antihypertensive regimen in subjects with resistant hypertension associated with stage 3 CKD. In all, 32 patients were treated with spironolactone and 4 with eplerenone for a median follow-up of 312 days. MRAs induced a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure from 162±22 to 138±14 mm Hg (P<0.0001) and in diastolic blood pressure from 87±17 to 74±12 mm Hg (P<0.0001). Serum potassium increased from 4.0±0.5 to 4.4±0.5 mEq l(-1) (P=0.0001), with the highest value being 5.8 mEq l(-1). The serum creatinine increased from 1.5±0.3 to 1.8±0.5 mg dl(-1) (P=0.0004) and the estimated glomerular filtration rate decreased from 48.6±8.7 to 41.2±11.5 ml min(-1) per 1.73 m(2) (P=0.0002). One case of acute renal failure and three cases of significant hyperkalemia occurred. MRAs significantly reduced blood pressure in subjects with resistant hypertension associated with stage 3 CKD, although close biochemical monitoring is recommended because of an increased risk of hyperkalemia and worsening of renal function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Acute Kidney Injury / blood
  • Acute Kidney Injury / chemically induced
  • Acute Kidney Injury / physiopathology
  • Aged
  • Alabama
  • Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / therapeutic use
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Antihypertensive Agents / adverse effects
  • Antihypertensive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects*
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Chronic Disease
  • Creatinine / blood
  • Diuretics / therapeutic use
  • Drug Resistance*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Eplerenone
  • Female
  • Glomerular Filtration Rate / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Hyperkalemia / blood
  • Hyperkalemia / chemically induced
  • Hypertension / complications
  • Hypertension / drug therapy*
  • Hypertension / physiopathology
  • Kidney / drug effects
  • Kidney / physiopathology
  • Kidney Diseases / blood
  • Kidney Diseases / complications*
  • Kidney Diseases / physiopathology
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists / adverse effects
  • Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists / therapeutic use*
  • Potassium / blood
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Spironolactone / adverse effects
  • Spironolactone / analogs & derivatives*
  • Spironolactone / therapeutic use
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Antihypertensive Agents
  • Biomarkers
  • Diuretics
  • Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists
  • Spironolactone
  • Eplerenone
  • Creatinine
  • Potassium