Oxidative stress and post-transplant hypertension in pediatric kidney-transplanted patients

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, p22phox and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Total plasma antioxidant power (ELISA) was also evaluated. Results: Mononuclear cell p22phox 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 μmol/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. © 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.