Drug May Treat Resistant Hypertension in ESRD.

Treatment with spironolactone – a potassium-sparing diuretic – in 11 ESRD patients with refractory hypertension led to an average 15/9 mm Hg decrease in 24-hour blood pressure levels at four weeks and a 9/3 mm Hg decrease at 16 weeks. Increases in serum potassium were not statistically significant. Mean serum aldosterone levels rose from 123 to 169 pg/mL, but no changes were observed in C-reactive protein, left ventricular mass, and flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery. The findings were presented at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Society of Hypertension and was highlighted by Renal & Urology News.