SPRINT and the Kidney: What Have We Learned?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review the impact of the Systolic Blood Pressure Interventional Trial (SPRINT) on renal function and chronic kidney disease.

RECENT FINDINGS: Hypertension is a risk factor for cardiovascular and kidney outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The benefits of intensive blood pressure lowering in the CKD population in previous studies are unclear. The SPRINT compared standard (< 140 mmHg) and intensive (< 120 mmHg) blood pressure management in nondiabetic patients with high risk of cardiovascular disease. In the subgroup of patients with CKD, the most important finding was that intensive blood pressure lowering is associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. Other than lower levels of albuminuria, there was no benefit on clinical kidney outcomes with the intensive treatment group. The risk of incident CKD and episodes of acute kidney injury was higher in patients in the intensive treatment group, though most patients with acute kidney injury recovered kidney function. While the benefit of intensive blood pressure lowering on cardiovascular events and mortality with intensive blood pressure lowering is clear in patients with CKD, longer term follow-up may be needed to fully understand the effect on kidney function.