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Minoxidil therapy in children and young adult patients with renal disease and refractory hypertension: value when multidrug regimens have failed to achieve blood pressure control

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 24, pages 552–554 (2010)Cite this article

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Minoxidil is an orally potent long-acting direct vasodilator that selectively relaxes peripheral vascular smooth muscle cells, thereby decreasing the peripheral vascular resistance and reducing blood pressure (BP). 1 Around 30 years ago, uncontrolled paediatric studies showed that minoxidil is useful in achieving BP control in patients with refractory arterial hypertension. 2, 3, 4 Since the publication of these studies, there have been important changes regarding the definition and in the evaluation and treatment of hypertension in the paediatric population. 5

For example, according to the current guidelines, most of the concomitant antihypertensive drugs used in those studies are no longer recommended as first-line agents.5 In addition, although minoxidil is still advised for the treatment of resistant hypertension,5 there is a paucity of studies aimed at addressing the use of minoxidil combined with newer antihypertensive agents. Therefore, we summarize our experience in paediatric and young adult patients with asymptomatic secondary hypertension who were resistant to the treatment of hypertension as per the current recommendations, and in whom minoxidil was added to achieve target BP.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department for Clinical Science, Division of Paediatrics, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden

    S Edström Halling, K Åsling-Monemi, M Herthelius, G Celsi, N K Kuru & R T Krmar

  2. Department of Clinical Physiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden

    G Vavilis

  3. Department of Clinical Science, Division of Renal Medicine, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden

    M Efvergren

Authors
  1. S Edström Halling
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  2. K Åsling-Monemi
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  4. G Celsi
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  5. G Vavilis
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  6. N K Kuru
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  7. M Efvergren
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  8. R T Krmar
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Correspondence to R T Krmar.

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Halling, S., Åsling-Monemi, K., Herthelius, M. et al. Minoxidil therapy in children and young adult patients with renal disease and refractory hypertension: value when multidrug regimens have failed to achieve blood pressure control. J Hum Hypertens 24, 552–554 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/jhh.2010.40

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