


Redefining diuretics use in hypertension: why select a thiazide-like diuretic ? Michel Burnier, George Bakris, and Bryan Williams

Prof. MICHEL BURNIER, Drs. ERIETTA POLYCHRONOPOULOU and GRÉGOIRE WUERZNER

How can we accept the lowering of blood pressure targets in daily practice when more than half of treated hypertensive patients have blood pressure values above the "former" targets? The publication of new guidelines concerning the diagnosis of hypertension and the target blood pressure levels to be achieved routinely plunges us back into an almost Lelouch-like question: What was it all for?

Cardiovascular events represent a major cause of death in renal transplant patients [1,2]. Renal transplant recipients also constitute a population at very high risk for progressive graft loss and renal events. Although immunological risk factors play an important role in renal survival, it is less recognized that hypertension is probably the major nonimmunological risk factor for graft loss [2]. Accurate diagnosis of hypertension and adequate control of blood pressure (BP) is considered as a fundamental goal in the management of renal transplant patients to lower their cardiovascular and renal risk. However, diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of hypertension remain suboptimal in most renal transplant patients [3]. This editorial is a call for action aiming at improving hypertension control in the transplant population.