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International audience; Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major public health issue affecting an estimated 850 million people globally. The leading causes of CKD is diabetes and hypertension, which together account for more than 50% of patients with end-stage kidney disease. Progressive CKD leads to the requirement for kidney replacement therapy with transplantation or dialysis. In addition, CKD, is a risk factor for premature cardiovascular disease, particularly from structural heart disease and heart failure (HF). Until 2015, the mainstay of treatment to slow progression of both diabetic and many non-diabetic kidney diseases was blood pressure control and renin-angiotensin system inhibition; however, neither angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) nor angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) reduced cardiovascular events and mortality in major trials in CKD. The emergence of cardiovascular and renal benefits observed with sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) from clinical trials of their use as antihyperglycaemic agents has led to a revolution in cardiorenal protection for patients with diabetes. Subsequent clinical trials, notably DAPA-HF, EMPEROR, CREDENCE, DAPA-CKD and EMPA-KIDNEY have demonstrated their benefits in reducing risk of HF and progression to kidney failure in patients with HF and/or CKD. The cardiorenal benefits - on a relative scale - appear similar in patients with or without diabetes. Specialty societies’ guidelines are continually adapting as trial data emerges to support increasingly wide use of SGLT2i. This consensus paper from EURECA-m and ERBP highlights the latest evidence and summarises the guidelines for use of SGLT2i for cardiorenal protection focusing on benefits observed relevant to people with CKD.

Diabetic kidney disease develops in about 40% of patients with diabetes and is the commonest cause of chronic kidney disease worldwide. Patients with chronic kidney disease, especially those with diabetes mellitus, are at high risk of both developing kidney failure and cardiovascular death. The use of renin-angiotensin system blockers to reduce the incidence of kidney failure in patients with diabetic kidney disease dates back to studies that are now 20 or more years old. During the last few years sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors have shown beneficial renal effects in randomized trials. However, even in response to combined treatment with renin-angiotensin system blockers and sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors, the renal residual risk remains high with kidney failure only deferred, but not avoided. The risk of cardiovascular death also remains high even with optimal current treatment. Steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists reduce albuminuria and surrogate markers of cardiovascular disease in patients already on optimal therapy. However, their use has been curtailed by the significant risk of hyperkalaemia. In The FInerenone in reducing kiDnEy faiLure and dIsease prOgression in Diabetic Kidney Disease (FIDELIO-DKD) study comparing the actions of the non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist finerenone with placebo, finerenone reduced the progression of diabetic kidney disease and the incidence of cardiovascular events with a relatively safe adverse event profile. This document presents in detail the available evidence on the cardioprotective and nephroprotective effects of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, analyses the potential mechanisms involved and discusses their potential future place in the treatment of patients with diabetic chronic kidney disease. Sin financiación 7.186 JCR (2021) Q1, 3/25 Transplantation 1.536 SJR (2021) Q1, 219/2489 Medicine (miscellaneous) No data IDR 2021 UEM

Item does not contain fulltext Several forms of secondary hypertension carry a high risk of cardiac morbidity and mortality. Evaluation of cardiac phenotypes in secondary hypertension provides a unique opportunity to study underlying hormonal and biochemical mechanisms affecting the heart. We review the characteristics of cardiac dysfunction in different forms of secondary hypertension and clarify the mechanisms behind the higher prevalence of heart damage in these patients than in those with primary hypertension. Attention to the specific clinical/biochemical phenotypes of these conditions may assist clinicians to screen for and confirm secondary forms of hypertension. Thereby, early signs of heart damage can be recognized and monitored, allowing individualized treatment to delay or prevent evolution toward more advanced disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an independent risk factor for the development of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), as well as for cardiovascular and renal events and all-cause mortality following surgery for AAA or thoracic aortic dissection. In addition, the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) after any aortic surgery is particularly high, and this AKI per se is independently associated with future cardiovascular events and mortality. On the other hand, both development of AKI after surgery and the long-term evolution of kidney function differ significantly depending on the type of AAA intervention (open surgery vs. the various subtypes of endovascular repair). Current knowledge regarding AAA in the general population may not be always applicable to CKD patients, as they have a high prevalence of co-morbid conditions and an elevated risk for periprocedural complications. This summary of a Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes Controversies Conference group discussion reviews the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of Diseases of the Aorta in CKD and identifies knowledge gaps, areas of controversy, and priorities for future research.

Background. Hyperkalaemia is a frequent and potentially life-threatening condition in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Even after successful kidney transplantation (KTx), KTx recipients have mild to severe CKD. Moreover, they share comorbid conditions and frequently use medications that predispose to hyperkalaemia. This study aimed to examine the prevalence and factors associated with hyperkalaemia in this population. Methods. Over a pre-specified period of 6 months (1 September 2019 to 31 March 2020), we recorded in cross-sectional fashion information on serum potassium (K+) and relevant demographics, comorbidities, medications, laboratory and transplant-associated variables in clinically stable KTx recipients attending the Transplant Outpatient Clinic of our Department. Hyperkalaemia was classified as follows: serum K+ level >5.0 mEq/L; and further as >5.0 mEq/L with concomitant use of sodium (Na+) polystyrene sulphonate; serum K+ >= 5.2 mEq/L; serum K+ >= 5.5 mEq/L. Univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with serum K+ >5.0 mEq/L. Results. The study population consisted of 582 stable KTx recipients, 369 (63.4%) males, aged 52.4 +/- 13.5 years, with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 55.8 +/- 20.1 mL/min/1.73m(2) transplanted for >1 year. The prevalence of hyperkalaemia defined as K+ >5.0 mEq/L; >5.0 mEq/L and use of Na+ polystyrene sulphonate; K+ >= 5.2; or K+ >= 5.5 mEq/L, was: 22.7, 22.7, 14.4 and 4.1% (132, 132, 84 and 24 patients), respectively. In multivariate analysis, male gender [odds ratio (OR) = 2.020, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.264-3.227] and use of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) blockers (OR = 1.628, 95% CI 1.045-2.536) were independently associated with hyperkalaemia, while higher eGFR (OR = 0.967, 95% CI 0.955-0.979) and use of non-K+-sparing diuretics (OR = 0.140, 95% CI 0.046-0.430) were associated with lower odds of the disorder. Conclusions. The prevalence of mild hyperkalaemia in stable KTx recipients is relatively high but that of moderate or severe hyperkalaemia is low. Among a wide range of factors studied, only male gender and RAAS blockade were associated with increased odds of hyperkalaemia, while higher eGFR and diuretics were associated with decreased odds of hyperkalaemia. [GRAPHICS] .

Objectives: Ambulatory blood pressure (BP) control is worse in men compared with women with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and this may partially explain the faster CKD progression in men. This is the first study investigating possible sex differences in prevalence, control and phenotypes of hypertension in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) with office-BP and 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM). Methods: This cross-sectional study included 136 male and 69 female stable KTRs who underwent office-BP measurements and 24-h ABPM. Hypertension thresholds for office and ambulatory BP were defined according to the 2017 ACC/AHA and 2021 KDIGO guidelines for KTRs. Results: Age, time from transplantation, eGFR and history of major comorbidities did not differ between groups. Office SBP/DBP levels were insignificantly higher in men than women (130.3 +/- 16.3/77.3 +/- 9.4 vs. 126.4 +/- 17.8/74.9 +/- 11.5 mmHg; P = 0.118/0.104) but daytime SBP/DBP was significantly higher in men (128.5 +/- 12.1/83.0 +/- 8.2 vs. 124.6 +/- 11.9/80.3 +/- 9.3 mmHg; P = 0.032/P = 0.044). No significant between-group differences were detected for night-time BP. The prevalence of hypertension was similar by office-BP criteria (93.4 vs. 91.3%; P = 0.589), but higher in men than women with ABPM (100 vs. 95.7%; P = 0.014). The use of ACEIs/ARBs and CCBs was more common in men. Office-BP control was similar (43.3 vs. 44.4%, P = 0.882), but 24-h control was significantly lower in men than women (16.9 vs. 30.3%; P = 0.029). White-coat hypertension was similar (5.1 vs. 7.6%; P = 0.493), whereas masked hypertension was insignificantly more prevalent in men than women (35.3 vs. 24.2%; P = 0.113). Conclusion: BP levels, hypertension prevalence and control are similar by office criteria but significantly different by ABPM criteria between male and female KTRs. Worse ambulatory BP control in male compared with female KTRs may interfere with renal and cardiovascular outcomes.

Background. Hypertension (HTN) is common following renal transplantation and it is associated with adverse effects on cardiovascular (CV) and graft health. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is the preferred method to characterize blood pressure (BP) status, since HTN misclassification by office BP (OBP) is quite common in this population. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis aimed at determining the clinical utility of 24-h ABPM and its potential implications for the management of HTN in this population. Methods. Ovid-MEDLINE and PubMed databases were searched for interventional or observational studies enrolling adult kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) undergoing 24-h ABP readings compared with OBP or home BP. The main outcome was the proportion of KTRs diagnosed with HTN by ABPM, home or OBP recordings. Additionally, day-night BP variability and dipper/non-dipper status were assessed. Results. Forty-two eligible studies (4115 participants) were reviewed. A cumulative analysis including 27 studies (3481 participants) revealed a prevalence of uncontrolled HTN detected by ABPM of 56% [95% confidence interval (CI) 46-65%]. The pooled prevalence of uncontrolled HTN according to OBP was 47% (95% CI 36-58%) in 25 studies (3261 participants). Very few studies reported on home BP recordings. The average concordance rate between OBP and ABPM measurements in classifying patients as controlled or uncontrolled hypertensive was 66% (95% CI 59-73%). ABPM revealed HTN phenotypes among KTRs. Two pooled analyses of 11 and 10 studies, respectively, revealed an average prevalence of 26% ( 95% CI 19-33%) for masked HTN (MHT) and 10% (95% CI 6-17%) for white-coat HTN (WCH). The proportion of non-dippers was variable across the 28 studies that analysed dipping status, with an average prevalence of 54% (95% CI 45-63%). Conclusions. In our systematic review, comparison of OBP versus ABP measurements disclosed a high proportion of MHT, uncontrolled HTN and, to a lesser extent, WCH in KTRs. These results suggest that HTN is not adequately diagnosed and controlled by OBP recordings in this population. Furthermore, the high prevalence of non-dippers confirmed that circadian rhythm is commonly disturbed in KTRs.

Sin financiación 7.186 JCR (2021) Q1, 3/25 Transplantation 1.536 SJR (2021) Q1, 7/72 Nephrology No data IDR 2021 UEM

Additional file 1: Table S1. Baseline characteristics in patients by sex and in the propensity-matched population sample. Table S2. Stepwise logistic regression modeled analysis for the association of male sex with acute kidney injury in the propensity matched population. Table S3. Comparisons of 30-day, 6-month, 1-year and 48-month all-cause mortality in propensity matched male and female patients with and without AKI. Table S4. Stepwise Cox regression modeled analysis for the association of male sex with all-cause mortality after acute kidney injury occurrence during the 30-day and the 6-month follow-up periods in the the propensity-matched population sample. Figure S1. Kaplan Meier curves in propensity-matched male and female patients with and without AKI during the (A) 30-day, (b) 6-month, (C) 1-year and (D) 48-month follow-up periods.

Hypertension remains a major public health issue with inadequate control worldwide. The May Measurement Month (MMM) initiative by the International Society of Hypertension was implemented in Greece in 2019 aiming to raise hypertension awareness and control. Adult volunteers (>= 18years) were recruited through opportunistic screening in five urban areas. Information on medical history and triplicate sitting blood pressure (BP) measurements were obtained using validated automated upper-arm devices. Hypertension was defined as systolic BP >= 140mmHg and/or diastolic >= 90mmHg, and/or self-reported use of drugs for hypertension. A total of 5727 were analysed [mean age 52.7 (SD 16.6) years, men 46.5%, 88.3% had BP measurement in the last 18months]. The prevalence of hypertension was (41.6%) and was higher in men and in older individuals. Among individuals with hypertension, 78.7% were diagnosed, 73.1% treated, and 48.3% controlled. Awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension were higher in women and in older individuals. Hypertensives had a higher body mass index (BMI) and were more likely to have diabetes, myocardial infarction and stroke, and less likely to smoke than normotensives (all P

AIMS Since December 2015, the European/International Fibromuscular Dysplasia (FMD) Registry enrolled 1022 patients from 22 countries. We present their characteristics according to disease subtype, age and gender, as well as predictors of widespread disease, aneurysms and dissections. METHODS AND RESULTS All patients diagnosed with FMD (string-of-beads or focal stenosis in at least one vascular bed) based on CTA, MRA and/or catheter-based angiography were eligible.Patients were predominantly women (82%) and Caucasians (88%). Age at diagnosis was 46±16 years (12% ≥65yo), 86% were hypertensive, 72% had multifocal and 57% multivessel FMD. Compared to patients with multifocal FMD, patients with focal FMD were younger, more often men, had less often multivessel FMD but more revascularizations. Compared to women with FMD, men were younger, had more often focal FMD and arterial dissections. Compared to younger patients with FMD, patients ≥65yo had more often multifocal FMD, lower eGFR and more atherosclerotic lesions. Independent predictors of multivessel FMD were age at FMD diagnosis, stroke, multifocal subtype, presence of aneurysm or dissection and family history of FMD. Predictors of aneurysms were multivessel and multifocal FMD. Predictors of dissections were age at FMD diagnosis, male gender, stroke and multivessel FMD. CONCLUSIONS The European/International FMD Registry allowed large-scale characterization of distinct profiles of patients with FMD and, more importantly, identification of a unique set of independent predictors of widespread disease, aneurysms and dissections, paving the way for targeted screening, management and follow-up of FMD. TRANSLATIONAL PERSPECTIVE Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is nowadays considered as a systemic arterial disease, warranting brain-to-pelvis vascular imaging in all patients. However, most current evidence is derived from a limited number of expert centres. Furthermore, one size may not fit all. Based on analysis of the first thousand patients enrolled in the European/International FMD registry (46 centres; 22 countries) we characterized distinct patient profiles according to FMD subtype, age and gender and identified predictors of widespread disease, aneurysms and dissections, paving the way for individualized management and follow-up. Further studies will allow refining patient characterization according to ethnicity, genetic profile and imaging biomarkers.

Introduction: Hypertension is the most prominent risk factor in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). No study so far assessed in parallel the prevalence, control, and phenotypes of blood pressure (BP) or the accuracy of currently recommended office BP diagnostic thresholds in diagnosing elevated ambulatory BP in KTRs. Methods: 205 stable KTRs underwent office BP measurements and 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM). Hypertension was defined as follows: (1) office BP >= 140/90 mm Hg or use of antihypertensive agents following the current European Society of Cardiology/European Society of Hypertension (ESC/ESH) guidelines, (2) office BP >= 130/80 mm Hg or use of antihypertensive agents following the current American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines, (3) ABPM >= 130/80 mm Hg or use of antihypertensive agents, and (4) ABPM >= 125/75 mm Hg or use of antihypertensive agents. Results: Hypertension prevalence by office BP was 88.3% with ESC/ESH and 92.7% with ACC/AHA definitions compared to 94.1 and 98.5% at relevant ABPM thresholds. Control rates among hypertensive patients were 69.6 and 43.7% with office BP compared to 38.3 and 21.3% with ABPM, respectively. Both for prevalence (kappa-statistics = 0.52, p < 0.001 and 0.32, and p < 0.001) and control rates (kappa-statistics = 0.21, p < 0.001 and 0.22, and p < 0.001, respectively), there was moderate or fair agreement of the 2 techniques. White-coat and masked hypertension were diagnosed in 6.7 and 39.5% of patients at the 140/90 threshold and 5.9 and 31.7% of patients at the 130/80 threshold. An office BP >= 140/90 mm Hg had 35.3% sensitivity and 84.9% specificity for the diagnosis of 24-h BP >= 130/80 mm Hg. An office BP >= 130/80 mm Hg had 59.7% sensitivity and 73.9% specificity for the diagnosis of 24-h BP >= 125/75 mm Hg. Receiver operating curve analyses confirmed this poor diagnostic performance. Conclusions: At both corresponding thresholds studied, ABPM revealed particularly high hypertension prevalence and poor BP control in KTRs. Misclassification of KTRs by office BP is substantial, due to particularly high rates of masked hypertension. The diagnostic accuracy of office BP for identifying elevated ambulatory BP is poor. These findings call for a wider use of ABPM in KTRs.

Objective: The efficacy of renal sympathetic denervation (RDN) has been affirmed by a number of recent clinical studies, despite controversies in this field over the last five years. Therefore, it is of paramount importance that hypertension experts debate the merits of RDN by revealing and expressing their personal beliefs and perspectives regarding this procedure. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among Greek leaders of the Hypertension Excellence Centers with the use of a closed-type questionnaire specifically designed to elicit information and evaluate the respondent’s views and perspectives about RDN efficacy, safety and ideal target patient population. Results: A total of 36 participants completed the survey. Based on the results, RDN was considered efficient (91.7%) and safe (94.5%), while the overwhelming majority of the participants felt confident in the long-term efficacy (88.9%) of the intervention and that it lacks reliable predictors of blood pressure response (94.5%). Patients with resistant (91.7%), ultra-resistant (94.4%), and uncontrolled hypertension (80.6%) were suggested as ideal candidates for RDN. Establishing a close co-operation between interventionalists and hypertension experts was considered essential to ensure the efficacy (97.2%) as well as the safety (97.3%) of the procedure. Conclusion: The vast majority of Greek hypertension experts surveyed were convinced of the efficacy and safety of RDN based on the preponderance of available scientific and clinical data. Identification of the ideal patient group remains controversial. Respondents generally agreed on the necessity of building close collaborative relationships between interventionalists and hypertension experts in order to improve RDN clinical outcome. (c) 2021 Hellenic Society of Cardiology. Publishing services by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Hypertension is common in kidney transplantation recipients and may be difficult to treat. Factors present before kidney transplantation, related to the transplantation procedure itself and factors developing after transplantation may contribute to blood pressure (BP) elevation in kidney transplant recipients. The present consensus is based on the results of three recent systematic reviews, the latest guidelines and the current literature. The current transplant guidelines, which recommend only office BP assessments for risk stratification in kidney transplant patients should be reconsidered, given the presence of white-coat hypertension and masked hypertension in this population and the better prediction of adverse outcomes by 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring as indicated in recent systematic reviews. Hypertension is associated with adverse kidney and cardiovascular outcomes and decreased survival in kidney transplant recipients. Current evidence suggests calcium channel blockers could be the preferred first-step antihypertensive agents in kidney transplant patients, as they improve graft function and reduce graft loss, whereas no clear benefit is documented for renin-angiotensin system inhibitor use over conventional treatment in the current literature. Randomized control trials demonstrating the clinical benefits of BP lowering on kidney and major cardiovascular events and recording patient-related outcomes are still needed. These trials should define optimal BP targets for kidney transplant recipients. In the absence of kidney transplant-specific evidence, BP targets in kidney transplant recipients should be similar to those in the wider chronic kidney disease population.

In the acknowledgements section of this article as originally published, information on the authors' roles as EURECAm members is missing. The correct acknowledgement is as follows: "This Review was planned as part of the activity of the European Renal and Cardiovascular Medicine working (EURECAm) group and all authors are EURECAm members. A.O.'s work was supported by Spanish Government ISCIII FEDER funds (PI16/02057, ISCIII-RETIC REDinREN RD16/0009) and Community of Madrid (B2017/BMD-3686 CIFRA2-CM). P.R.'s work is supported by a public grant overseen by the French National Research Agency (ANR) as part of the second "Investissements d'Avenir" program FIGHT-HF (reference: ANR-15-RHU-0004) and by the French PIA project "Lorraine Université d'Excellence", reference ANR-15-IDEX-04-LUE." The omission has been corrected in the PDF and HTML versions of the article.

We report a case of a 51-year-old Caucasian man referred at our department due to acute renal failure (ARF) complicating respiratory failure during hospitalization in a regional hospital. The patient was previously started on steroids due to the suspicion of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) in the context of Goodpasture syndrome. However, clinical and laboratory findings did not support this diagnosis; instead a careful evaluation limited differential diagnosis of the renal insult to acute tubular necrosis or acute interstitial nephritis (AIN) following respiratory infection. With lung function fully improved but renal function not recovering, a renal biopsy revealed AIN, a finding leading to further diagnostic testing and finally to the diagnosis of Legionnaires’ disease as a cause of this patient’s pulmonary-renal syndrome. The management consisted of progressive tapering of oral steroids associated with full recovery of the patient’s renal function. This is a rare case of Legionnaires’ disease causing immune-mediated AIN and highlights the possibility of Legionella infection as a cause of pulmonary-renal syndrome.

The aim of this study was to compare the cost-utility of the first available single-pill triple combination antihypertensive therapy containing valsartan (V), amlodipine (A) and hydrochlorothiazide (H), with each of the same components dual combinations in patients with moderate to severe hypertension. A Markov model with eight health states was constructed. The short-term effect of antihypertensive treatment on blood pressure was extrapolated through the Hellenic SCORE and Framingham risk equations, estimating the long-term survival and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) saved. Costs and outcomes were evaluated over lifetime, divided into annual cycles and discounted at 3.0 % with 2013 as reference year. The analysis was conducted by the Greek third-party-payer perspective. The triple combination treatment cost was estimated at (sic)16,525 compared to (sic)15,480 for V/A, (sic)14,125 for V/H and (sic)11,690 for A/H. The QALYs saved with the triple combination were 12.76 vs. 12.64, 12.61 and 12.38 for double combinations respectively. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of the triple combination versus V/A and A/H was far lower than the Greek GDP per capita ((sic)8,690/QALY and (sic)12,695/QALY, respectively) and really close for V/H ((sic)16,192/QALY), suggesting V/A/H combination to be cost-effective. Extensive sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the results. The probability that the triple combination is cost effective was more than 90 % at a willingness-to-pay threshold of (sic)18,000/QALY. This is the first study to evaluate the cost-utility of a single-pill triple combination. The single-pill V/A/H therapy is a cost-effective antihypertensive choice for the treatment of moderate to severe hypertension, compared to its dual components.

J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2011;13:523–528. ©2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Resistant hypertension is an entity that has gained a lot of attention in recent years. The prevalence and prognosis of resistant hypertension have not yet been examined by proper population studies, but data from several sources suggest that this entity is not uncommon and is associated with an elevated risk of hypertensive complications. Moreover, several factors and conditions that can interfere with blood pressure control such as excess sodium intake, obesity, diabetes, older age, kidney disease, and certain identifiable causes of hypertension were shown to be common among patients with resistance to antihypertensive treatment. Importantly, the prevalence of several of these conditions has been increasing continuously during the past years, suggesting a future increase in the frequency of resistant hypertension. This article will discuss current knowledge and associated future implications relevant to the epidemiology of resistant hypertension.

Panagiotis C Stafylas, Pantelis A Sarafidis1st Department of Medicine, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, GreeceAbstract: Although β-blockers have been previously shown to effectively reduce blood pressure (BP) and have been used for hypertension treatment for over 40 years, their effect on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in hypertensive patients remains controversial and its use in uncomplicated hypertension is currently under debate. However, data on the above field derive mainly from studies which were conducted with older agents, such as atenolol and metoprolol, while considerable pharamacokinetic and pharmacodynamic heterogeneity is present within the class of β-blockers. Carvedilol, a vasodilating non-cardioselective β-blocker, is a compound that seems to give the opportunity to the clinician to use a cardioprotective agent without the concerning hemodynamic and metabolic actions of traditional β-blocker therapy. In contrast with conventional β-blockers, carvedilol maintains cardiac output, has a less extended effect on heart rate and reduces BP by decreasing vascular resistance. Further, several studies has shown that carvedilol has a beneficial or at least neutral effect on metabolic parameters, such as glycemic control, insulin sensitivity, and lipid metabolism, suggesting that they could be used in subjects with the metabolic syndrome or diabetes without negative consequences. This article summarizes the distinct pharmacologic, hemodynamic, and metabolic properties of carvedilol in relation to conventional β-blockers, attempting to examine the potential use of this agent for hypertension treatment.Keywords: carvedilol, β-blockers, hypertension treatment

Resistant hypertension is defined as failure to achieve goal blood pressure (BP) when a patient adheres to the maximum tolerated doses of 3 antihypertensive drugs including a diuretic. Although the exact prevalence of resistant hypertension is currently unknown, indirect evidence from population studies and clinical trials suggests that it is a relatively common clinical problem. The prevalence of resistant hypertension is projected to increase, owing to the aging population and increasing trends in obesity, sleep apnea, and chronic kidney disease. Management of resistant hypertension must begin with a careful evaluation of the patient to confirm the diagnosis and exclude factors associated with “pseudo-resistance,” such as improper BP measurement technique, the white-coat effect, and poor patient adherence to life-style and/or antihypertensive medications. Education and reinforcement of life-style issues that affect BP, such as sodium restriction, reduction of alcohol intake, and weight loss if obese, are critical in treating resistant hypertension. Exclusion of preparations that contribute to true BP treatment resistance, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, cold preparations, and certain herbs, is also important. Lastly, BP control can only be achieved if an antihypertensive treatment regimen is used that focuses on the genesis of the hypertension. An example is volume overload, a common but unappreciated cause of treatment resistance. Use of the appropriate dose and type of diuretic provides a solution to overcome treatment resistance in this instance.

Hospital admissions and mortality from the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic are spreading throughout the world, and second and third waves are thought to be likely. Risk factors for severe COVID-19 include diabetes, chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease. Currently, there is no vaccine and no approved therapy. Therapeutic approaches are aimed at preventing viral replication and spread, limiting the impact of the inflammatory overdrive (cytokine storm), preventing thromboembolic complications and replacing or supporting organ function. However, despite organ support, mortality is currently 65% for those receiving advanced respiratory support and 78% for those requiring renal replacement therapies. Thus, efforts should be made to provide adjuvant organ protection therapy. This may imply novel therapies in clinical development (e.g., the Fas ligand trap asunercept), but uptake of repurposed drugs already in clinical use may be faster. In this regard, sodium glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors were recently shown to protect the heart and kidney both within and outside of a diabetic milieu context. Further, preclinical data support a beneficial effect for the lung. We now discuss the potential benefits and risks of SGLT2 inhibitors in COVID-19 and an ongoing clinical trial testing the impact of dapagliflozin on outcomes in COVID-19 patients with respiratory failure., European Union (European Union); FIS/Fondos FEDER; Comunidad de Madrid en Biomedicina; Sociedad Espanola de Nefrologia; FRIAT