A Longitudinal Study of Arterial Blood Pressure in Chronic Haemodialysis Patients with Different Levels of Plasma Renin Concentration

The purpose of the study was to examine the value of regular measurements of plasma renin concentration (PRC) in selecting those chronic haemodialysis patients suitable for bilateral nephrectomy to prevent development of uncontrollable hypertension. Regular measurements of arterial blood pressure (BP) and PRC were performed during one year in 31 patients undergoing regular haemodialysis because of end-stage renal disease. Among 18 patients with PRC greater than or equal to 100 micro Goldblatt units per ml plasma (microGU/ml) systolic and/or diastolic hypertension persisted or developed in 12. In contrast, among 13 patients with PRC greater than 100microGU/ml, BP became normal in all but one, who had a slightly increased systolic BP. However, hypertension was mild and easily controlled by conventional therapy in all except one, who probably had an overlying volume-dependent hypertension. Therefore, bilateral nephrectomy was not necessary in any case. The results indicate that hypertension in the majority of chronic haemodialysis patients with high PRC can be adequately controlled without surgical intervention and that regular measurements of PRC have no practical value in forecasting the development of uncontrollable hypertension in chronic haemodialysis patients.