1. Haemodynamics, blood volume, plasma renin concentration and creatinine clearance were evaluated in 24 stable renal transplant recipients.
2. The mean cardiac index of the transplant recipients was not different from that of the normal subjects.
3. The transplant recipients comprised eight hypertensive and 16 normotensive patients. The mean cardiac index was the same in eight hypertensive and 16 normotensive patients. Thus the hypertension of stable renal transplant recipients is sustained by a high total peripheral resistance.
4. The mean blood volume, plasma renin concentration and creatinine clearance were similar in eight hypertensive and 16 normotensive patients. Therefore the hypertension of stable renal transplant recipients is not related to blood volume expansion, elevated peripheral renin or low creatinine clearance. The cause of the elevated total peripheral resistance in hypertension in stable renal transplant recipients remains to be elucidated.
