Mc. Matteucci et al., Left ventricular hypertrophy, treadmill tests, and 24-hour blood pressure in pediatric transplant patients, KIDNEY INT, 56(4), 1999, pp. 1566-1570
Background Hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) are possible
complications in pediatric patients after renal transplantation.
Methods. We performed left ventricular echocardiography, 24-hour ambulatory
blood pressure monitoring (24-hr ABPM), and treadmill tests in 28 pediatri
c renal transplant patients (mean age 16.1 +/- 3.7; time since transplantat
ion 36 +/-. 23 months). Left ventricular mass (LVM) was indexed for height(
2.7)
Results. LVH was found in 82% of the patients. Seven of these patients were
normotensive by 24-hour ABPM, but five patients showed a hypertensive syst
olic BP response during the treadmill test. LVM/height(2.7) correlated sign
ificantly with the mean 24-hour systolic BP (P = 0.002) and with the maxima
l exercise systolic BP (P = 0.002).
Conclusion. LVH is frequent in pediatric renal transplant patients. More in
formation is needed with respect to the risk for LVH, including data from 2
4-hour ABPM and treadmill testing.