Objective: To test the hypothesis that oxidative stress signaling contributes to post-transplant endothelial dysfunction and hypertension in pediatric post-transplant hypertension.
Study design: This study evaluated in 16 pediatric renal transplant patients, divided in two groups based on the presence of post-transplant hypertension, the oxidative stress status measuring the gene expression (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) of two major oxidative stress-related proteins, p22(phox) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Total plasma antioxidant power (ELISA) was also evaluated.
Results: Mononuclear cell p22(phox) gene expression was higher in hypertensive patients compared with the normotensive group (0.91 +/- 0.06 vs 0.79 +/- 0.08 densitometric units, P < .02), whereas HO-1 RNA production and total plasma antioxidant power were higher in the normotensive group (0.38 +/- 0.04 vs 0.20 +/- 0.11 d.u., P < .006, and 1189.35 +/- 145.75 vs 772.71 +/- 196.03 micromol/L, P < .01, respectively).
Conclusions: Oxidative stress is associated with post-transplant hypertension in hypertensive pediatric kidney-transplant patients, who therefore are at risk of oxidative stress-induced organ damage. They might benefit from treatments addressing not only hypertension but also oxidant-related complications.