Recovery of Chronic Dialysis Hypotension After Kidney Transplantation: A Case Report

Chronic dialysis hypotension is described as low systolic blood pressure (<100 mmHg) during interdialytic period. The presence of low predialysis systolic blood pressure, typically <110 mmHg, is signifi cantly associated with increased mortality. Kidney transplantation is the preferred model of renal replacement therapy in the treatment of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) as it improves quality of life and survival. In this article, a long-term hemodialysis (HD) patient with chronic hypotension improved after kidney transplantation is presented. A 39-year-old male patient received a deceased donor kidney transplant. The patient was on HD for 23 years. The patient had suffered from chronic persistent hypotension for the last 8 years. Blood pressure was 70/50 mmHg before dialysis and 60/40 mmHg after dialysis. In the post-transplant period, blood pressure was maintained above 110/70 mmHg by intermittent infusion of dopamine. Hypotension was improved after 24 days and dopamine was discontinued. Various etiologies may cause chronic hypotension in patients receiving long-term HD treatment. Kidney transplantation may improve survival and quality of life by correcting hypotension in these patients. Therefore kidney transplantation should not be avoided as renal replacement therapy in ESRD patients with hypotension.