"Also there is other evidence to bring into question the widespread application of this costly goal of a blood pressure less than 130/80 mm Hg," Lewis adds. Some studies have even suggested that CKD patients with very low blood pressure could be at increased risk of death.
A new trial sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will compare the effects of different blood pressure targets in over 10,000 patients with CKD. Until the results are available, Lewis believes that doctors should make individualized decisions about blood pressure control for their patients with kidney disease.
Lewis emphasizes that no firm conclusions can be drawn from her review, since it was based on different types of studies with conflicting results.
The article, entitled "Blood Pressure Control in Chronic Kidney Disease: Is Less Really More?" will appear online at jasn.asnjournals/ on June 24, 2010, doi 10.1681/ASN.2010030236.
Source: National Kidney Foundation Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative