Extent of Hypertension and Renal Injury in Children Surviving Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Background: Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) fortunately has high survival rates, and understanding longer-term implications of therapy is critical. In this study, we aimed to investigate kidney health outcomes by assessing the prevalence of renal dysfunction and hypertension (HTN) in children with ALL at one to five years after ALL diagnosis. Methods: This was a single center, cross-sectional study of children with ALL who were 1-5 years post diagnosis. GFR measurements were calculated, and urine samples were collected to assess for protein/creatinine and albumin/creatinine. Blood pressure (BP) was determined by standard oscillometric technique, and children >6 years of age were eligible for ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). Results: Forty-five patients enrolled in the study, 21 completed ABPMs. Fifteen patients (33%, 95% CI: 20-49%) developed AKI at least once. Thirteen (29%, 95% CI: 16-44%) had hyperfiltration, and 11 (24%) had abnormal proteinuria and/or albuminuria. Prevalence of HTN based on clinic measurements was 42%. In the 21 ABPM patients, 14 had abnormal results (67%, 95% CI: 43-85%) with the majority (11/21) demonstrating abnormal nocturnal dipping pattern. . Conclusions: Among children with ALL, there is a high prevalence of past AKI. The presence of hyperfiltration, proteinuria and/or albuminuria at 1-5 years after ALL diagnosis suggest real risk of developing CKD over time. There is a high prevalence of HTN on casual BP readings and even higher prevalence of abnormal ABPM in this group. The high prevalence of impaired nocturnal dipping by ABPM indicates an increased risk for future cardiovascular or cerebral ischemic events.

Effect of the Nonsteroidal Mineralocorticoid Receptor Blocker, Esaxerenone, on Nocturnal Hypertension: A Post Hoc Analysis of the ESAX-HTN Study

BACKGROUND Nocturnal hypertension is an important phenotype of abnormal diurnal blood pressure (BP) variability and a known risk marker for target organ damage and cardiovascular events. This study aimed to assess the differential BP-lowering effects of esaxerenone vs. eplerenone on nocturnal BP in hypertensive patients with different nocturnal dipping patterns. METHODS This was a post hoc analysis of the “Esaxerenone (CS-3150) Compared to Eplerenone in Patients with Essential Hypertension” study (NCT02890173), which was a phase 3, multicenter, randomized, controlled, double-blind, parallel-group clinical study conducted in Japan. Ambulatory BP monitoring data were collected. RESULTS Patients (n = 1,001) were randomized to esaxerenone 2.5 mg/day (n = 331) or 5 mg/day (n = 338), or eplerenone 50 mg/day (n = 332). Reductions in nighttime systolic BP (95% confidence interval) were significantly greater with 2.5 and 5 mg/day esaxerenone vs. eplerenone (−2.6 [−5.0, −0.2] and −6.4 mm Hg [−8.8, −4.0], respectively). Esaxerenone significantly reduced nighttime BP from baseline compared with eplerenone in non-dippers with previously uncontrolled BP. In addition, esaxerenone did not markedly alter nighttime BP in extreme dipper patients. In the esaxerenone 5 mg/day group, esaxerenone-induced decreases in nighttime BP were greater than eplerenone-induced decreases in older patients. CONCLUSIONS Esaxerenone may be an effective treatment option for nocturnal hypertension, especially in older patients and those with a non-dipper pattern of nocturnal BP.