Resistant Hypertension: Why Test For Lupus?
I do not know much about lupus, but I do know about resistant hypertension. Nevertheless, recently I have learned that there is an association between resistant hypertension and lupus.
Research findings have indicated that people with lupus are more likely to have resistant hypertension.
It is important to be tested for lupus if you have resistant hypertension because treatment for lupus MIGHT BE NEEDED.
What is Resistant Hypertension?
Resistant Hypertension is hypertension that is resistant to treatment. In 2008, resistant hypertension was defined in the American Hypertension Association Scientific Statement. This statement was deemed the first to define resistant hypertension as difficult to treat controlled or uncontrolled hypertension. Further, three to four medications of different classes including a water pill (diuretic) is the definition of resistant hypertension.
What is Lupus?
Lupus is a type of autoimmune disease. Your immune system attacks your kidney, skin or joints causing inflammation and swelling.
African American women have the highest prevalence of lupus; so, lupus is more commonly seen in African American women.
Lupus is usually detected and diagnosed before 50 years old. People with lupus commonly have diseases of the organs such as the kidney, heart, lung or they usually have blood diseases.
To learn more see the excellent video on YouTube by Dr. Frita and see the short video below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zm2zNJvHLeE
Resistant Hypertension and Lupus
People with lupus have higher rates of resistant hypertension, which is hypertension that is resistant to treatment. For example, people with lupus have a 10.2% of resistant hypertension where as the prevalence of resistant hypertension in people without the disease is as low as 5.3% in a recent study.
That said, it is important to rule out lupus in people with resistant hypertension.
This can be done with a simple blood test called an antinuclear antibody titer (ANA titer).
An ANA titer of 1:160 or greater would be suspicious for lupus. Only your health care provider can diagnose lupus.
However, it is ALSO important to treat your resistant hypertension to prevent poor cardiovascular outcomes from resistant hypertension.
Treatment and Supplementation for Lupus
Treatment for lupus depends on the symptoms and affected organ. But the primary treatment for lupus is medication. Anti-inflammatory medication, immune suppressants , biologics, or anti-malaria medication are drugs that are commonly used.
According to research published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Disease, Omega-3 fish oils has a therapeutic effect on disease activity and improves endothelial function.
Omega-3 fish oil reduces oxidative stress which helps to decrease cardiovascular disease. Research in the Journal of Rheumatology has also shown that Omega-3 fish oil might even modify the symptoms of lupus.
To learn more about lupus, there is an excellent video on YouTube by Dr. Smith that will give you all that you need to know.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_n9BB6oouk
Resources
Calhoun, D., Jones, D., Textor, S., Goff, D., Murphy, T., Toto, R., et al. (2008). Resistant hypertension: diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment. A scientific statement from the American Heart Association Professional education committee, profession education committee of the council for high blood pressure research. Hypertension, 51(6), 1403-1419.
Fisher, F. (2018). What is lupus? YouTube Video
Gandelman, J. S. (2019). Resistant hypertension twice as common in patients with SLE. Retrieved from https://www.healio.com/rheumatology/lupus/news/online/%7B097465ae-07c8-4b15-a83e-8e4a2ca21088%7D/resistant-hypertension-twice-as-common-in-patients-with-sle
Smith, H. (2013). What is lupus?
Smith, H. (2013). What is the TREATMENT FOR LUPUS?
Wright, S., O’Prey, F., McHenry, M., Leahey, W., Devine, A., & Duffy, E., et al. (2008). A randomised interventional trial of omeg-3-polyunsaturated fatty acids on endothelial function and disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus. Annuals of Rheumatic Disease, 67(6), 841-848.
