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Study objective We compare the performance of a wrist blood pressure oscillometer with the mercury standard in the triage process of an emergency department (ED) and evaluate the impact of wrist blood pressure measurement on triage decision. Methods Blood pressure was successively measured with the standard mercury sphygmomanometer and with the OMRON-RX-I wrist oscillometer in a convenience sample of 2,493 adult patients presenting to the ED with non–life-threatening emergencies. Wrist and mercury measures were compared using criteria of the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) and the British Hypertension Society (BHS). The impact on triage decisions was evaluated by estimating the rate of changes in triage decisions attributable to blood pressure results obtained with the wrist device. Results Wrist oscillometer failed to meet the minimal requirements for recommendation by underestimating diastolic and systolic blood pressure. Mean (±SD) differences between mercury and wrist devices were 8.0 mm Hg (±14.7) for systolic and 4.2 mm Hg (±12.0) for diastolic measures. The cumulative percentage of blood pressure readings within 5, 10, and 15 mm Hg of the mercury standard was 32%, 58%, and 72% for systolic, and 40%, 67%, and 83% for diastolic measures, respectively. Using the wrist device would have erroneously influenced the triage decision in 7.6% of the situations. The acuity level would have been overestimated in 2.2% and underestimated in 5.4% of the triage situations. Conclusion The performance of the OMRON-RX-I wrist oscillometer does not fulfill the minimum criteria of AAMI and BHS compared with mercury standard in the ED triage setting.

Renal hemodynamic and tubular responses to salt in women using oral contraceptives.BackgroundThe use of oral contraceptives is associated with an increased risk of developing hypertension but the mechanisms of this hypertensive effect are not completely defined. The purpose of the present study was to assess prospectively the systemic and renal hemodynamic and tubular responses to salt in women taking oral contraceptives.MethodsTwenty seven young healthy normotensive women taking oral contraceptives containing monophasic combination of 30 μg ethynilestradiol and 150 μg desogestrel for>6 months were enrolled. All women were assigned at random to receive a low (40mmol/day) or a high (250mmol/day) sodium diet for 1 week on two consecutive menstrual cycles during the active oral contraceptive phase. At the end of each diet period, 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure, renal hemodynamics, sodium handling, and hormonal profile were measured.ResultsThe blood pressure response to salt on oral contraceptives was characterized by a salt-resistant pattern with a normal circadian rhythm. Salt loading results in an increase in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (P < 0.05 vs. low salt), with no change in the renal plasma flow, thus leading to an increase in the filtration fraction (P < 0.05). At the tubular level, women on oral contraceptives responded to a low salt intake with a marked increased in proximal sodium conservation (P < 0.01 vs. high salt) and with an almost complete reabsorption of sodium reaching the distal tubule. After sodium loading, both the proximal and the distal reabsorption of sodium decreased significantly (P < 0.01).ConclusionThe use of oral contraceptives is not associated with an increased blood pressure response to salt in young normotensive women. However, oral contraceptives affect the renal hemodynamic response to salt, a high salt intake leading to an increase in GFR and filtration fraction. This effect is possibly mediated by the estrogen-induced activation of the renin-angiotensin system. Oral contraceptives also appear to increase the tubular responsiveness to changes in sodium intake. Taken together, these data point out evidence that synthetic sex steroids have a significant impact on renal function in women. The renal effects of oral contraceptives should be taken into account when managing young women with renal diseases.

Circadian variations of renal sodium handling in patients with orthostatic hypotension.BackgroundSodium wasting during the night has been postulated as a potential pathophysiological mechanism in patients suffering from orthostatic hypotension due to severe autonomic deficiency.MethodsIn this study, the diurnal variations in creatinine clearance, sodium excretion and segmental renal tubular handling of sodium were evaluated in 18 healthy subjects and 20 young patients with orthostatic hypotension (OH). In addition, 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure and the neuro-hormonal response to changes in posture were determined. The patients and their controls were studied on a free sodium intake. In a second protocol, 10 controls and 10 patients were similarly investigated after one week of a high salt diet (regular diet + 6g NaCl/day).ResultsOur results demonstrate that, in contrast to normal subjects in whom no significant changes in glomerular filtration, sodium excretion and segmental sodium reabsorption were observed throughout the day, patients with OH were characterized by a significant increase in glomerular filtration rate during the nighttime (P = 0.03) and significant increases in urinary lithium excretion (P < 0.05) and lithium clearance (P = 0.05) during the night, suggesting a decreased proximal reabsorption of sodium. On a high sodium diet, the symptoms of orthostatic hypotension and the circardian variations in sodium reabsorption were significantly blunted.ConclusionsThese results suggest that, while the patient is in a supine position the effective blood volume of those with OH becomes excessive due to the increased venous return. Hence, the kidney responds with an increase in glomerular filtration and a relative escape of sodium from the proximal tubular segments. These circadian variations in renal sodium handling may contribute to the maintenance of the orthostatic syndrome.

Objectives Women with a history of preeclampsia (PE) are at increased risk of long term cardiovascular and end-stage renal diseases. However, follow up of preeclamptic women is often omitted, mainly due to a weakness of knowledge of maternal caregivers and lack of comprehensive guidelines. The aim of this study was to define the prevalence of albuminuria, high blood pressure, and renal dysfunction 6 weeks after a preeclampsia. Methods This is a prospective case-control study comparing women presenting with preeclampsia to an unmatched control group of women with no hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. A complete medical assessment was performed at 6 weeks post-partum. Recruitment started in June 2010. Results 324 women were included in the PE group and 50 in the control one. Characteristics of both groups and results of the medical work-up at 6 weeks post-partum are presented in Table 1. Women with preeclampsia presented with a higher BMI, higher prevalence of office high blood pressure, pathological albuminuria and renal hyper-filtration than women in the control group. Conclusions Prevalence of post-partum hypertension, and renal dysfunction is higher in women with PE than in uncomplicated pregnancies. Systematic assessment of renal risk factors 6 weeks after preeclampsia allows identification of high-risk women and early implementation of preventive and therapeutic strategies. Disclosures A. Ditisheim: None. B. Ponte: None. G. Wuerzner: None. M. Burnier: None. M. Boulvain: None. A. Pechere-Bertschi: None.

Recent data have shown that preeclampsia is not just a disease of pregnancy that resolves with delivery. Preeclampsia may be considered a 'risk marker' for later-life diseases, including cardiovascular and renal diseases and the metabolic syndrome.We aimed a longitudinal prospective study to analyze the renal abnormalities in the post-partum.We studied 127 post-preeclamptic women at 6 weeks post-partum. Twenty-four hour urine collection, ambulatory blood pressure and renal function were evaluated.The mean age (±SD) was 32±6years, BMI was 29.4±5.7, the race distribution was Caucasian 69%, Hispanic 14%, Black 12% and Orient 5%. Ten % were active smokers, 10% have been suffering from gestational diabetes. The mean duration of the pregnancy was 36 weeks 3/7±4. Our results show that the prevalence of hypertension defined by office blood pressure ⩾140/90 mmHg or ongoing antihypertensive treatment was 35%. The daytime ambulatory blood pressure (ABPM) was 122±16/85±11 mmHg, heart rate 84±8, and 111±20/75±11 mmHg at nighttime.Sixteen % had a daytime ABPM ⩾135/85mmHg corresponding to the definition of ambulatory hypertension. Ultrasensitive CRP was 4.9±5.1mg/ml, of them 31% had a frank elevation of the CRP4. The glomerular filtration rate evaluated by the Gault-Cockroft equation showed a hyperfiltration with a mean value of 150±42ml/min. Eleven% had a decreased GFR90 ml/min. Microalbumine/creatinine ratio measured in the urine spot was 7 ±4. Mean microalbuminuria was 225±529mg/d measured on the 24h urine collection.Urine 24h Na excretion rate was 204±48 mmol/d.In conclusion, after the post-partum period, women having suffered from a pre-eclampsia display many cardiovascular risk factors with a high prevalence of hypertension, microalbuminuria, renal hyperfiltration and elevated CRP. These women should be carefully screened, and sub-groups with the higher risk have to be targeted for prevention and treatment, and close follow-up.

Objectives Blunted nocturnal dip of blood pressure (BP) and reversed circadian rhythm have been described in preeclampsia (PE). Non-dipper status and preeclampsia are both associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease later in life. Complete recovery of BP in PE is reported to occur over a variable period of time. Twenty-four hours-ambulatory blood pressure measurement (ABPM) in the post-partum follow-up after a PE has not been described. The aim of this study was to assess 24 h-ambulatory blood pressure pattern after a PE and to determine the prevalence of non-dipper status, nocturnal hypertension, white coat hypertension and masked hypertension. Methods This is an observational, prospective study on women who suffered from a preeclampsia. A 24 h-ABPM was done 6 weeks post-partum at the Hypertension Unit of the University Hospitals of Geneva, concomitantly with a clinical and biological evaluation. Results Forty-five women were included in a preliminary analysis. Mean age was 33 ± 6 years, 57.3% were Caucasian, mean BMI before pregnancy was 24 ± 5 kg/m2. Office and ambulatory BP are shown in Table 1. Prevalence of nocturnal hypertension was high and half of the women had no nocturnal dipping. The diagnosis of hypertension based on office BP was discordant with the diagnosis based on ABPM in 25% of women. Conclusions The prevalence of increased nighttime BP and abnormal BP pattern is high at 6 weeks post-partum in preeclamptic women. Early assessment of BP with ABPM after preeclampsia allows an early identification of women with persistent circadian abnormalities who might be at increased risk. It also provides a more accurate assessment than office BP. Disclosures A. Ditisheim: None. B. Ponte: None. G. Wuerzner: None. M. Burnier: None. M. Boulvain: None. A. Pechere-Bertschi: None.