Pediatric ambulatory blood pressure monitoring: indications and interpretations

Prevalence of masked hypertension in children with chronic kidney disease: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Hypertension poses a significant risk as a complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD), contributing to its hastened advancement. Implementing ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), a straightforward and non-invasive method proves beneficial in identifying masked hypertension.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was carried out involving children aged 5-15 years diagnosed with CKD to estimate the difference in masked HTN prevalence between the 2014 and 2022 AHA ABPM guidelines. The study encompassed a comprehensive assessment, including 24-h blood pressure monitoring and was performed using ABPM. Left ventricular mass (LVM) was computed based on measurements obtained from M-mode echocardiography. PWV was determined by calculating the ratio of distance (D) to time (t).

RESULTS

We examined a cohort of 138 children diagnosed with CKD. Our findings reveal that, in accordance with the 2022 American Heart Association (AHA) ABPM guidelines, prevalence of masked hypertension stands at 29.7% marking a notable increase of 17.4% compared to the 2014 ABPM guidelines signifying a substantial proportion of undetected hypertensive cases. Furthermore, the prevalence of hypertension is 48.5% as detected by ABPM, marking a notable increase of 22.5%.

CONCLUSIONS

A substantial occurrence of masked hypertension was identified in pediatric CKD patients through the application of ABPM. ABPM proves to be an effective tool for uncovering masked hypertension in children with CKD.

Predicting Childhood and Adolescence Hypertension: Analysis of Predictors Using Machine Learning

BACKGROUND

There has been a substantial burden of hypertension in children and adolescents. Given the availability of primary prevention strategies, it is important to determine predictors for early identification of children and adolescents at risk of hypertension. This study aims to attempt and validate machine learning (ML) algorithms for accurately predicting blood pressure (BP) status (normal, prehypertension, and hypertension) over 1- and 3-year periods, identifying key predictors without compromising model performance.

METHODS

We included a population-based cohort of primary 1 to secondary 6 students (typically aged 6 to 18 years) during the academic years of 1995 to 1996 and 2019 to 2020 in Hong Kong. Thirty-six easy-assessed predictors were initially model childhood BP status. Multiple ML algorithms, decision tree, random forest, k-nearest neighbor, eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), and multinomial logistic regression (MLR), were used. Model evaluation was performed by various accuracy metrics. The Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) was used to identify key features for both predictions.

RESULTS

A total of 923 301 and 602 179 visit pairs were used for the 1- and 3-year predictions, respectively. XGBoost demonstrated the highest prediction accuracies for 1-year (macro-area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUROC] = 0.92, micro-AUROC = 0.91) and 3-year (macro-AUROC = 0.91, micro-AUROC = 0.90) periods. The traditional MLR approach had the lowest accuracies for 1- (macro-AUROC = 0.70, micro-AUROC = 0.68) and 3-year (macro-AUROC = 0.70, micro-AUROC = 0.68) predictions. The SHAP values identified 17 key predictors without the need for direct BP measurements or laboratory tests.

CONCLUSION

ML prediction models can accurately predict childhood prehypertension and hypertension at 1 and 3 years, independent of BP and laboratory measurements. The identified key predictors may inform areas for personalized prevention in hypertension.

Trajectory of Systemic Blood Pressure in Early Life: A Cohort Study

Objective. To track the BP (blood pressure) trajectory of healthy infants during the first year of life of healthy infants born in Northeast Brazil. Methods. In this cohort study, BP was assessed by oscillometry at the first 24 hours of life and 12 months of age. Results. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) increased with age (P < .001) and were not influenced by gender (SBP: P = .178 and DBP: P = .623) or type of delivery (SBP: P = .827 and DBP: P = .106), when compared between the first 24 hours of life and 12 months of age. Conclusion. The data from the present study increased knowledge about the trajectory of BP during the first year of life. The increase in BP between the first month and the first year of life was not influenced by gender or type of delivery.

The importance of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring for diagnosing masked hypertension in patients with renal parenchymal scarring

BACKGROUND

The most well-known and common long-term complication in children with renal parenchymal scarring (RPS) is hypertension (HT). The present study aimed to evaluate the presence of HT in children with RPS based on ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and to compare the patients' blood pressure (BP) to that in healthy controls matched for age, gender, and BMI.

METHODS

The study included 55 patients aged < 18 years diagnosed with RPS who were followed up for ≥ 1 year and 48 healthy controls matched for age, gender, and BMI.

RESULTS

Mean age in the RPS group was 12.8 ± 3.3 years, and 49.1% of the group were female. Among the RPS patients, 28 were diagnosed with HT based on ABPM, of which 18 (32.7%) had an office BP < 90th percentile for age, gender, and height; seven had an office BP between the 90-95th percentiles for age, gender, and height; and three had an office BP > 95 percentile for age, gender, and height. The difference in detection of HT based on ABPM between the two groups was significant (P = 0.00).

CONCLUSIONS

Early diagnosis of HT via ABPM can help prevent development of kidney failure and cardiovascular disease in patients with RPS, significantly reducing the rates of morbidity and mortality. All children with RPS should be evaluated via ABPM, even if office BP measurements are normal. "A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information".

Demographics of childhood hypertension in the UK: a report from the Southeast England

We aimed to describe hypertensive phenotype and demographic characteristics in children and adolescents referred to our paediatric hypertension service. We compared age, ethnicity and BMI in primary hypertension (PH) compared to those with secondary hypertension (SH) and white coat hypertension (WCH). Demographic and anthropometric data were collected for children and adolescents up to age 18 referred to our service for evaluation of suspected hypertension over a 6 year period. Office blood pressure (BP) and out of office BP were performed. Patients were categorised as normotensive (normal office and out of office BP), WCH (abnormal office BP, normal out of office BP), PH (both office and out of office BP abnormal, no underlying cause identified) and SH (both office and out of office BP abnormal, with a secondary cause identified). 548 children and adolescents with mean ± SD age of 10.1 ± 5.8 years and 58.2% girls. Fifty seven percent (n = 314) were hypertensive; of these, 47 (15%), 84 (27%) and 183 (58%) had WCH, PH and SH, respectively. SH presented throughout childhood, whereas PH and WCH peaked in adolescence. Non-White ethnicity was more prevalent within those diagnosed with PH than both the background population and those diagnosed with SH. Higher BMI z-scores were observed in those with PH compared to SH. Hypertensive children <6 years are most likely to have SH and have negligible rates of WCH and PH. PH accounted for 27% of hypertension diagnoses in children and adolescents, with the highest prevalence in adolescence, those of non-White Ethnicity and with excess weight.

Deriving Normative Data on 24-Hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring for South Asian Children (ASHA): A Clinical Research Protocol

BACKGROUND

The global prevalence of hypertension in children and adolescents has increased over the past 2 decades and is the strongest predictor of adult hypertension. South Asians have an increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome associated risk factors including abdominal obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. All these factors contribute to their increased cardiovascular disease burden. Accurate and early identification of hypertension in South Asian children is a necessary aspect of cardiovascular disease prevention. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is considered the gold-standard for pediatric blood pressure (BP) measurement. However, its utilization is limited due to the lack of validated normative reference data in diverse, multiethnic pediatric populations.

OBJECTIVE

The primary objective is to establish normative height-sex and age-sex-specific reference values for 24-h ABPM measurements among South Asian children and adolescents (aged 5-17 years) in Ontario and British Columbia, Canada. Secondary objectives are to evaluate differences in ABPM measurements by body mass index classification, to compare our normative data against pre-existing data from German and Hong Kong cohorts, and to evaluate relationships between habitual movement behaviors, diet quality, and ABPM measurements.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study, quasi-representative sample.

SETTING

Participants will be recruited from schools, community centers, and places of worship in Southern Ontario (Greater Toronto and Hamilton area, including the Peel Region) and Greater Vancouver, British Columbia.

PARTICIPANTS

We aim to recruit 2113 nonoverweight children (aged 5-17 years) for the primary objective. We aim to recruit an additional 633 overweight or obese children to address the secondary objectives.

MEASUREMENTS

Ambulatory BP monitoring measurements will be obtained using Spacelabs 90217 ABPM devices, which are validated for pediatric use. The ActiGraph GT3X-BT accelerometer, which has also been validated for pediatric use, will be used to obtain movement behavior data.

METHODS

Following recruitment, eligible children will be fitted with 24-h ABPM and physical activity monitors. Body anthropometrics and questionnaire data regarding medical and family history, medications, diet, physical activity, and substance use will be collected. Ambulatory BP monitoring data will be used to develop height-sex- and age-sex-specific normative reference values for South Asian children. Secondary objectives include evaluating differences in ABPM measures between normal weight, overweight and obese children; and comparing our South Asian ABPM data to existing German and Hong Kong data. We will also use compositional data analysis to evaluate associations between a child's habitual movement behaviors and ABPM measures.

LIMITATIONS

Bloodwork will not be performed to facilitate recruitment. A non-South Asian comparator cohort will not be included due to feasibility concerns. Using a convenience sampling approach introduces the potential for selection bias.

CONCLUSIONS

Ambulatory BP monitoring is a valuable tool for the identification and follow-up of pediatric hypertension and overcomes many of the limitations of office-based BP measurement. The development of normative ABPM data specific to South Asian children will increase the accuracy of BP measurement and hypertension identification in this at-risk population, providing an additional strategy for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Evaluation of arterial hypertension by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in pediatric liver transplant recipients

OBJECTIVE

Many cardiovascular complications, including hypertension, are seen in pediatric liver transplantation. The purpose of this study was to analyze the frequency of arterial hypertension of pediatric liver transplant recipients and also to determine the related risk factors.

METHODS

Thirty-six pediatric liver transplant recipients aged 8-17 years were prospectively studied by manual and ambulatory blood pressure measurement (ABPM) technique.

RESULTS

The mean age of patients was 12.42 ± 2.74 years and the mean ABPM measurement time after transplantation was 2 years (3 months-5.9 years). Only one (2.7%) patient was detected as hypertensive by casual measurement, but 17 (47.2%) patients were found to be hypertensive when measured through ABPM. Of children that were found to be hypertensive as a result of ABPM, 64.7% were observed to have a nondipper pattern. Considering the time passed after the transplantation, patients were found to be more hypertensive in the first 2 years posttransplant although it was not found statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, it has been shown that it is possible to diagnose hypertension at an earlier period of transplantation using ABPM in pediatric liver transplant patients. ABPM is needed to detect masked hypertension that may develop following liver transplantation.

Abnormal Ambulatory Blood Pressure and Early Renal Dysfunction in Sickle Cell Disease

OBJECTIVES

There is sparsity of studies evaluating blood pressure in children with sickle cell disease (SCD), which have shown inconsistent results. Few of the studies have documented lower office blood pressure (BP) in SCD patients, whereas, others have shown presence of masked hypertension and abnormal ambulatory blood BP monitoring (ABPM). Thus, the present study was conducted to examine 24 h ABPM parameters and renal dysfunction in children with SCD and compare them with healthy controls.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 56 children (30 children having SCD and 26 controls). ABPM and evaluation of renal functions including serum creatinine, serum urea, urinary creatinine, urinary protein and specific gravity was performed.

RESULTS

Spot urinary protein to creatinine ratio was found to be higher in patients with SCD (63.3%) as compared to controls (p < 0.001). Proteinuria was observed in 1/4th of the SCD patients less than ten years of age. Masked hypertension was present in 2 (6.6%) patients, ambulatory hypertension in 4 (13.3%), ambulatory pre-hypertension in 1 (3.3%) and abnormal dipping in 60%. A statistically significant correlation of BMI for age Z-score and standard deviation score (SDS/Z) of 24 h systolic BP (r = 0.56, p = 0.002); estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) with 24 h diastolic BP SDS (r = -0.52; p = 0.038) and age with e GFR (r = 0.54; p = 0.025) was found in the present study.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study corroborates that ABPM abnormalities (ambulatory hypertension, non-dipping pattern, ambulatory prehypertension) and early onset proteinuria are significant findings in patients with SCD. This underscores the importance of regular screening for proteinuria and ABPM in routine care, for early detection and prevention of progressive renal damage in SCD.

Is Office Blood Pressure Measurement Reliable in Obese Adolescents?

BACKGROUND

Although it is not reflected in the OBP measurement in obese children, ambulatory BP changes are known to occur. MH, non-dipper pattern and nocturnal hypertension have been reported to increase in obese children. On the other hand, the factors that indicate a high risk of hypertension are still unclear. The aim of our study is to especially detect masked hypertension by 24-hour BP measurement in obese adolescents and to evaluate the relationship of masked hypertension with metabolic syndrome parameters, anthropometric measurements and hepatosteatosis in these patients.

METHODS

A total of 63 adolescents diagnosed with obesity were evaluated between January 2019 and December 2019. Office blood pressure was measured for all children, and all of them underwent ABPM. Patients with and without hypertension in ABPM were compared in terms of clinical and laboratory findings.

RESULTS

The mean age was 14.0 ± 1.7 years, females composed 49.2% of the study population. Office blood pressure measurement revealed hypertension in 4 (6.3%) patients and prehypertension in 15 (23.8%) patients. Thirteen patients (20.9%) were diagnosed with masked hypertension, white coat hypertension was diagnosed in 3 (4.7%) patients. Abnormal ABPM patterns were found to be significantly more frequent in patients with severely obesity (with obesity: 26.4% vs severe obesity: 55.6%, p = 0.03) and patients with a higher waist circumference and waist circumference/height ratio.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of masked hypertension in obese adolescents has been found to be quite high. Therefore, we recommend ABPM in adolescents with high waist circumference/height ratio and severe obesity, even if their office blood pressure measurements are normal.

Secondary Hypertension in Children and Adolescents: Novel Insights

Hypertension is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, not only in adults, but in youths also, as it is associated with long-term negative health effects. The predominant type of hypertension in children is the secondary hypertension, with the chronic kidney disease being the most common cause, however, nowadays, there is a rising incidence of primary hypertension due to the rising incidence of obesity in children. Although office blood pressure has guided patient management for many years, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring provides useful information, facilitates the diagnosis and management of hypertension in children and adolescents, by monitoring treatment and evaluation for secondary causes or specific phenotypes of hypertension. In the field of secondary hypertension, there are numerous studies, which have reported a strong association between different determinants of 24-hour blood pressure profile and the underlying cause. In addition, in children with secondary hypertension, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring parameters offer the unique advantage to identify pediatric low- and high-risk children for target organ damage. Novel insights in the pathogenesis of hypertension, including the role of perinatal factors or new cardiovascular biomarkers, such as fibroblast growth factor 23, need to be further evaluated in the near future.

Pediatric hypertension: an updated review

Globally hypertension in adults is among the leading preventable cause of premature death, where a graded association from the childhood hypertension is well recognised. With the concurrent rise in obesity and pediatric hypertension (HTN) during the past decade in developed countries, a parallel trend is emerging in developing countries that has a potential for exponential rise in cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and renal tragedies. A cumulative incidence of pediatric HTN in China and India is 50–70 and 23% respectively, is quite disturbing. New guidelines for the detection, evaluation and management of hypertension in children and adolescents published in 2017, where a jump in prevalence of pediatric HTN is observed, rings a call to address this under-attended burning problem; for which a review in pediatric hypertension and its management is warranted.

Ambulatory blood pressure abnormalities in children with migraine

BACKGROUND

Although there are data showing that the frequency of hypertension increases in adults with migraine, there has been no study on this subject in children. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the presence of hypertension in children with migraine by performing ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM).

METHODS

Thirty-seven children diagnosed with migraine and 30 healthy controls were evaluated between January 2015 and March 2016. Demographic data, clinical and laboratory features, and physical examination findings were recorded for both groups. Office blood pressure was measured for all children, and each also underwent ABPM. The two groups were compared in terms of ambulatory blood pressure parameters.

RESULTS

The mean age was 13.3 and 13.1 years and the proportion of females was 73% and 60% in the migraine and control groups, respectively. Although the frequency of hypertension was not higher, abnormal ABPM patterns were found to be significantly more frequent in the migraine group (migraine, 45.9%; control, 16.7%; p, 0.018). Nighttime mean arterial blood pressure, nighttime diastolic blood pressure, and non-dipping pattern were higher in children with migraine than those in the control group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that ambulatory blood pressure abnormalities may be present in almost half of patients with migraine. Therefore, we suggest that ABPM should be performed even if the office blood pressure measurements of children diagnosed with migraine are normal.

Ambulatory blood pressure profile in office normotensive obese children: prevalence of masked hypertension and impact of parental hypertension

Objectives The objectives of this study were to analyze ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) data in office normotensive obese children, to determine the prevalence and characteristics of masked hypertension (MH) and to investigate the impact of parental hypertension (PH) on ABP. Methods Seventy-nine obese and 35 normal weight children were enrolled. Each weight group was further divided in accordance with the presence of PH. ABP was recorded in an outpatient setting. Results Obese children had higher systolic ABP (p<0.05) and heart rate (p<0.001) compared with normal weight children. In obese children with PH, only nighttime systolic ABP (p=0.01) was higher compared with obese without PH, whereas normal weight children with PH had higher 24 h and daytime systolic and diastolic BP (all p<0.05) and nighttime DBP (p<0.001) compared with those without PH. PH but not obesity was associated with nondipping phenomenon. Prevalence of MH in the whole group was 23.6% being significantly higher in obese than in nonobese subjects (31.6 vs. 5.7%; p=0.0026) as well as in obese subjects with PH compared with obese subjects without PH (48.7 vs. 15%; χ2=10.37; p=0.001). MH was diagnosed more frequently in obese with high-normal office BP compared with obese with normal office BP, although it did not reach statistical significance (50 vs. 26.2%; χ2=3.631; p=0.056). In the normal weight group, neither PH nor office BP category had an impact on the prevalence of MH. Conclusions Office normotensive obese children had higher ABP values. MH was associated with obesity, PH and high-normal BP.

National data with high validity and completeness showed that only 0.04% of Danish children had been registered with diagnosed hypertension

AIM

Hypertension has been reported in up to 4.0% of American children, but no national data exist in Europe. We studied the frequency of registered hypertension in Danish children and evaluated the data.

METHODS

This 2014-2015 study focused on patients under the age of 16 registered with hypertension in the Danish National Patient Register and 10 paediatric departments in central and eastern Denmark. The diagnoses were coded according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision. All the subjects' medical records were reviewed, including any confirmed diagnoses.

RESULTS

There were 55 784 children under 16 in the study regions at 30 April 2014. By May 2015, 222 of those had been registered with hypertension: 200 in the Danish National Patient Register and 191 in the 10 paediatric departments. Their medical records confirmed hypertension in 187 and 185 cases, respectively. The prevalence of registered and confirmed hypertension was 222/553 784 (0.04%). The positive predictive values of hypertension were 187/200 (94%) and 185/191 (97%), and the completeness of diagnosed hypertension was 187/222 (84%) and 185/222 (83%).

CONCLUSION

The registers had high-quality positive predictive values and completeness, but only 0.04% of the Danish children were registered with a verified diagnosis of hypertension.

Predictive Model for Ambulatory Hypertension Based on Office Blood Pressure in Obese Children

Background: The epidemic of obesity, along with hypertension (HT) and cardiovascular disease, is a growing contributor to global disease burden. It is postulated that obese children are predisposed to hypertension and subsequent cardiovascular disease in adulthood. Early detection and management of hypertension in these children can significantly modify the course of the disease. However, there is a paucity of studies for the characterization of blood pressure in obese children through ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), especially in the developing world. This study aims to characterize ambulatory blood pressure in obese children and to explore feasibility of using office BP that will predict ambulatory hypertension. Methods:In the present study, 55 children with a body mass index (BMI) in the ≥95th percentile for age and sex were enrolled in a tertiary care hospital and underwent 24 h of ABPM and detailed biochemical investigations. Results:Ambulatory hypertension was recorded in 14/55 (25.5%; white coat hypertension in 17/29 (58.6%) and masked hypertension in 2/26 (7.69%). For office SBP percentile the area under curve (AUC) was 0.773 (95% CI: 0.619-0.926, p = 0.005) and for office DBP percentile the AUC was 0.802 (95% CI: 0.638-0.966, p = 0.002). The estimated cut offs (Youden's index) for office blood pressure which predicts ambulatory hypertension in obese children were the 93rd percentile for systolic BP (sensitivity-67% and specificity-78%) and the 88th percentile for diastolic BP (sensitivity-83% and specificity-62%). Conclusion:Ambulatory blood pressure abnormalities are highly prevalent among children with obesity. Office blood pressure did not accurately predict ambulatory hypertension. More than half of the children labeled as "hypertension" on office blood pressure measurement in the study were diagnosed to have white coat hypertension (WCH), thus emphasizing the role of ABPM for evaluation of WCH before the child is subjected to detailed investigations or started on pharmacotherapy.

Does the duration of ambulatory blood pressure measurement matter in diagnosing arterial hypertension in children?

OBJECTIVES

The aim of our study was to establish if 48-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is more reliable than 24-hour monitoring in order to reduce the impact of external factors on blood pressure (BP) in children.

METHODS

Two hundred fifteen children with indications for ABPM underwent 48-hour ABPM. In the first part of the study, the values of systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP) and heart rate between the first 24 hours and the total 48 hours were compared. In the second part, the same parameters between the first and second 24 hours were compared. In the third part, we determined whether the differences in measurements between the first and second 24 hours had clinical significance and meant a change of diagnosis.

RESULTS

The results of the first part of the study showed no statistically significant differences. In the second part, the average values of SBP and DBP were statistically significantly higher during the first 24 hours as compared with the second 24 hours. In the second 24 hours, more children had normal BP (NBP) and a smaller number of them had high NBP or arterial hypertension (AH) compared with the first 24 hours, suggesting that this has clinical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

Within certain limits, the results of our study suggest that 48-hour ABPM is more reliable than 24-hour ABPM, where especially the second 24 hours are a period of measurement that should be taken into consideration for this purpose. These results could impact the diagnostics of AH in children.

Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring in Pediatrics

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This is a review of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) use in pediatrics, summarizing current knowledge and uses of ABPM.

RECENT FINDINGS

Updated guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics have emphasized the value of ABPM. ABPM is necessary to diagnose white coat hypertension, masked hypertension, and nocturnal hypertension associated with specific conditions. There is growing evidence that ABPM may be useful in these populations. ABPM has been demonstrated to be more predictive of end-organ damage in pediatric hypertension compared to office blood pressure. ABPM is an important tool in the diagnosis and management of pediatric hypertension. Routine use of ABPM could potentially prevent early cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in a wide variety of populations.

Pediatric Hypertension: Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment

The etiology of hypertension in children and adolescents is varied; however, the prevalence of pediatric primary hypertension is increasing. Early identification and appropriate management of hypertension in children and adolescents is important to prevent the development of hypertensive end organ disease. The 2017 American Academy of Pediatrics Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Screening and Management of High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents provide a comprehensive reference for evaluation and management of hypertension in this age group and should be used when assessing patients with elevated blood pressure and hypertension.

Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Management of High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents

Systemic hypertension is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in adulthood. High blood pressure (HBP) and repeated measures of HBP, hypertension (HTN), begin in youth. Knowledge of how best to diagnose, manage, and treat systemic HTN in children and adolescents is important for primary and subspecialty care providers.

OBJECTIVES

To provide a technical summary of the methodology used to generate the 2017 "Clinical Practice Guideline for Screening and Management of High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents," an update to the 2004 "Fourth Report on the Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents."

DATA SOURCES

Medline, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Excerpta Medica Database references published between January 2003 and July 2015 followed by an additional search between August 2015 and July 2016.

STUDY SELECTION

English-language observational studies and randomized trials.

METHODS

Key action statements (KASs) and additional recommendations regarding the diagnosis, management, and treatment of HBP in youth were the product of a detailed systematic review of the literature. A content outline establishing the breadth and depth was followed by the generation of 4 patient, intervention, comparison, outcome, time questions. Key questions addressed: (1) diagnosis of systemic HTN, (2) recommended work-up of systemic HTN, (3) optimal blood pressure (BP) goals, and (4) impact of high BP on indirect markers of cardiovascular disease in youth. Once selected, references were subjected to a 2-person review of the abstract and title followed by a separate 2-person full-text review. Full citation information, population data, findings, benefits and harms of the findings, as well as other key reference information were archived. Selected primary references were then used for KAS generation. Level of evidence (LOE) scoring was assigned for each reference and then in aggregate. Appropriate language was used to generate each KAS based on the LOE and the balance of benefit versus harm of the findings. Topics that could not be researched via the stated approach were (1) definition of HTN in youth, and (2) definition of left ventricular hypertrophy. KASs related to these stated topics were generated via expert opinion.

RESULTS

Nearly 15 000 references were identified during an initial literature search. After a deduplication process, 14 382 references were available for title and abstract review, and 1379 underwent full text review. One hundred twenty-four experimental and observational studies published between 2003 and 2016 were selected as primary references for KAS generation, followed by an additional 269 primary references selected between August 2015 and July 2016. The LOE for the majority of references was C. In total, 30 KASs and 27 additional recommendations were generated; 12 were related to the diagnosis of HTN, 13 were related to management and additional diagnostic testing, 3 to treatment goals, and 2 to treatment options. Finally, special additions to the clinical practice guideline included creation of new BP tables based on BP values obtained solely from children with normal weight, creation of a simplified table to enhance screening and recognition of abnormal BP, and a revision of the criteria for diagnosing left ventricular hypertrophy.

CONCLUSIONS

An extensive and detailed systematic approach was used to generate evidence-based guidelines for the diagnosis, management, and treatment of youth with systemic HTN.

Prevalence of Hypertension in Children with Early-Stage ADPKD

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease is the most common inheritable kidney disease, frequently thought to become symptomatic in adulthood. However, patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease may develop signs or symptoms during childhood, in particular hypertension. Although ambulatory BP monitoring is the preferred method to diagnose hypertension in pediatrics, data in children with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease are limited.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS

Our retrospective multicenter study was conducted to collect ambulatory BP monitoring recordings from patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease age <18 years old. Basic anthropometric parameters as well as data on kidney function, BP treatment, and kidney ultrasound were also collected.

RESULTS

Data from 310 children with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease with a mean age of 11.5±4.1 years old were collected at 22 European centers. At the time when ambulatory BP monitoring was performed, 95% of children had normal kidney function. Reference data for ambulatory BP monitoring were available for 292 patients. The prevalence rates of children with hypertension and/or those who were treated with antihypertensive drugs were 31%, 42%, and 35% during daytime, nighttime, or the entire 24-hour cycle, respectively. In addition, 52% of participants lacked a physiologic nocturnal BP dipping, and 18% had isolated nocturnal hypertension. Logistic regression analysis showed a significant association between a categorical cyst score that was calculated on the basis of the number of cysts >1 cm per kidney and daytime hypertension (odds ratio, 1.70; 95% confidence interval, 1.21 to 2.4; P=0.002), nighttime hypertension (odds ratio, 1.31; 95% confidence interval, 1.05 to 1.63; P=0.02), or 24-hour hypertension (odds ratio, 1.39; 95% confidence interval, 1.08 to 1.81; P=0.01). Kidney length, expressed as SD score, was also significantly associated with nighttime hypertension (odds ratio, 1.23; 95% confidence interval, 1.06 to 1.42; P=0.10).

CONCLUSIONS

These data indicate high prevalence of hypertension in children with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease starting at young ages.

Importance of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in the diagnosis and prognosis of pediatric hypertension

The prevalence of high blood pressure (BP) at pediatric age has increased progressively, one of the causes of which is obesity. However, the dominant etiology in this age group is renal and/or cardiovascular pathology. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is the method of choice for the diagnosis of hypertension, especially in children at high cardiovascular risk. Its use is limited to children from five years of age. Choosing appropriate cuff size is key to obtaining correct blood pressure. The main indication for ABPM is to confirm the diagnosis of hypertension. It also allows the diagnosis of white coat hypertension (which may represent an intermediate stage between the normotensive phase and hypertension), or masked hypertension, associated with progression to sustained hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Children with isolated nocturnal hypertension should be considered as having masked hypertension. BP load is defined as the percentage of valid measurements above the 95th percentile for age, gender, and height. Values above 25-30% are pathological and those above 50% are predictive of LVH. ABPM correlates with target organ damage, particularly LVH and renal damage. It is useful in the differentiation of secondary hypertension, since these children show higher BP load and less nocturnal dipping, and confirmation of response to therapy. Thus ABPM allows the diagnosis and classification of hypertension, provides cardiovascular prognostic information and identifies patients with intermediate phenotypes of hypertension.

Comparisons of Office and 24-Hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring in Children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

OBJECTIVE

To compare office blood pressure (BP) and 24-hour ambulatory BP (ABP) monitoring to facilitate the diagnosis and management of hypertension in children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

STUDY DESIGN

Children aged 4-16 years with OSA-related symptoms were recruited from a tertiary referral medical center. All children underwent overnight polysomnography, office BP, and 24-hour ABP studies. Multiple linear regression analyses were applied to elucidate the association between the apnea-hypopnea index and BP. Correlation and consistency between office BP and 24-hour ABP were measured by Pearson correlation, intraclass correlation, and Bland-Altman analyses.

RESULTS

In the 163 children enrolled (mean age, 8.2 ± 3.3 years; 67% male). The prevalence of systolic hypertension at night was significantly higher in children with moderate-to-severe OSA than in those with primary snoring (44.9% vs 16.1%, P = .006). Pearson correlation and intraclass correlation analyses revealed associations between office BP and 24-hour BP, and Bland-Altman analysis indicated an agreement between office and 24-hour BP measurements. However, multiple linear regression analyses demonstrated that 24-hour BP (nighttime systolic BP and mean arterial pressure), unlike office BP, was independently associated with the apnea-hypopnea index, after adjustment for adiposity variables.

CONCLUSIONS

Twenty-four-hour ABP is more strongly correlated with OSA in children, compared with office BP.

Assessment of Left Ventricular Mass and Hypertrophy by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Pediatric Hypertension

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging in adults is considered the gold standard for assessment of left ventricular mass (LVM) and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). The authors aimed to evaluate agreement of LVM measurements and LVH determination between echocardiography (ECHO) and CMR imaging in children with hypertension (HTN) confirmed by 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). The children (n=22) underwent contemporaneous ECHO, CMR imaging, and ABPM. Patients had a mean body mass index of 30.9±7.5 (kg/m2 ), and 81.8% had severe HTN. LVM measured by ECHO was 189.6±62.1 g and by CMR imaging was 164.6±44.7 g (P<.0001). Bland-Altman analysis revealed significant variability between ECHO and CMR imaging in the measurement of LVM. Interobserver error was higher with ECHO than with CMR imaging. ECHO had high sensitivity and low specificity in LVH determination. In conclusion, ECHO overestimates LVM and is less accurate in measuring LVM as compared with CMR imaging in children with HTN. Further prospective study using CMR imaging to assess LVM in children is warranted.

Diagnosis, Epidemiology, and Management of Hypertension in Children

National guidelines for the diagnosis and management of hypertension in children have been available for nearly 40 years. Unfortunately, knowledge and recognition of the problem by clinicians remain poor. Prevalence estimates are highly variable because of differing standards, populations, and blood pressure (BP) measurement techniques. Estimates in the United States range from 0.3% to 4.5%. Risk factors for primary hypertension include overweight and obesity, male sex, older age, high sodium intake, and African American or Latino ancestry. Data relating hypertension in childhood to later cardiovascular events is currently lacking. It is known that BP in childhood is highly predictive of BP in adulthood. Compelling data about target organ damage is available, including the association of hypertension with left ventricular hypertrophy, carotid-intima media thickness, and microalbuminuria. Guidelines from both the United States and Europe include detailed recommendations for diagnosis and management. Diagnostic standards are based on clinic readings, ambulatory BP monitoring is useful in confirming diagnosis of hypertension and identifying white-coat hypertension, masked hypertension, and secondary hypertension, as well as monitoring response to therapy. Research priorities include the need for reliable prevalence estimates based on diverse populations and data about the long-term impact of childhood hypertension on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Priorities to improve clinical practice include more education among clinicians about diagnosis and management, clinical decision support to aid in diagnosis, and routine use of ambulatory BP monitoring to aid in diagnosis and to monitor response to treatment.

The Association of Pediatric Obesity With Nocturnal Non-Dipping on 24-Hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring

BACKGROUND

Obesity has been linked with abnormal nocturnal dipping of blood pressure (BP) in adults, which in turn is associated with poor cardiovascular outcomes. There are few data regarding abnormal dipping status in the obese pediatric population. The goal of this study was to further describe the relationship between obesity and non-dipping status on ambulatory blood pressure monitor (ABPM) in children.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study using a database of patients aged 5-21 years who had undergone 24-hour ABPM at Seattle Children's Hospital from January 2008 through May 2014. Subjects were grouped by body mass index (BMI) into lean (BMI 15th-85th percentile) and obese (BMI >95th percentile) groups.

RESULTS

Compared to lean subjects (n = 161), obese subjects (n = 247) had a prevalence ratio (PR) for non-dipping of 2.15, adjusted for race (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.25-3.42). Increasing severity of obesity was not further associated with nocturnal non-dipping. Nocturnal non-dipping was not associated with left ventricular hypertrophy (PR = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.71-1.44).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that in children, just as in adults, obesity is related to a relatively decreased dipping in nocturnal BP.

Arterial stiffness and SBP variability in children and adolescents

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to explore the impact of ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) parameters on arterial stiffness measured by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV) in children and adolescents.

METHOD

The study population consisted of 138 consecutive young patients (age range 4-20 years) referred to our hypertension center. Office blood pressure (BP), 24-h ABP monitoring and cf-PWV measurements were performed in all patients. Family history and smoking habits were also recorded.

RESULTS

Among the study population, 10.6% had cf-PWV values equal to or higher than the 95th percentile of the study population. cf-PWV was higher in the hypertensive compared to the normotensive patients, classified by ABP levels even after adjustment for age and sex. Significant correlations were found between cf-PWV and age, weight, height, estimated central pulse pressure (PP), office SBP and DBP, and ABP parameters including 24-h SBP and DBP, weighted 24-h SBP variability, 24-h SBP and DBP load, 24-h mean arterial pressure (MAP), daytime and night-time SBP, daytime and night-time SBP variability, but not with office and 24-h heart rate, 24-h heart rate variability, 24-h daytime and night-time PP, DBP variability, ambulatory arterial stiffeness index and BMI z-score. In analysis of covariance, only weighted 24-h SBP variability (β = 0.28, P < 0.05) and daytime SBP variability (β = 0.15, P < 0.05) were the independent determinants of cf-PWV in children and adolescents.

CONCLUSION

These data may suggest that increased SBP variability is closely associated with arterial stiffness in children and adolescents.

Effect of plasma NOx values on cardiac function in obese hypertensive and normotensive pediatric patients

BACKGROUND

Hypertension (HT) is a major comorbidity of obesity that is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and higher mortality. The aim of our study was to evaluate cardiac function in obese hypertensive (OHT) and obese normotensive (ONT) pediatric patients and determine the effects of plasma nitric oxide (NOx) values on cardiac function, while demonstrating the role of plasma NOx in HT in obese pediatric patients.

METHODS

The study population consisted of 62 patients (27 boys, 35 girls), aged 13-18 years and 21 age-matched healthy controls. All subjects enrolled in the study underwent echocardiography (Echo) evaluation and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring for HT. Plasma NOx and biochemical values were studied in both patient groups separately.

RESULTS

Plasma NOx levels were found to be lower in the OHT group than in the ONT and control groups (p < 0.001) and to be negatively correlated with left ventricular mass index values (p < 0.05). Both the OHT and ONT groups had concentric hypertrophy of the heart.

CONCLUSIONS

Plasma NOx plays an essential role in obesity-induced HT. Concentric hypertrophy of the left ventricle was found in both the OHT and ONT groups, indicating structural deformation of the heart.

Gender and obesity modify the impact of salt intake on blood pressure in children

BACKGROUND

Most modifiable risk factors for high blood pressure (BP), such as obesity and salt intake, are imprinted in childhood and persist into adulthood. The aim of our study was to evaluate the intake of salt in children and to assess its impact on BP taking into account gender and nutritional status.

METHODS

A total of 298 children aged 8-9 years were evaluated in a cross-sectional study. Anthropometric measurements and 24-h ambulatory monitoring were performed, and salt intake was determined by 24-h urinary sodium excretion.

RESULTS

The average estimated salt intake among the entire cohort of children enrolled in the study was 6.5 ± 2.2 g/day, and it was significantly higher in boys than in girls (6.8 ± 2.4 vs. 6.1 ± 1.9 g/day, respectively; p = 0.018) and in overweight/obese children than in normal weight children (6.8 ± 2.4 vs. 6.1 ± 2.0 g/day, respectively; p = 0.006). Salt intake exceeded the upper limit of the US Dietary Reference Intake in 72% of children. Daytime systolic BP increased by 1.00 mmHg (95% confidence interval 0.40-1.59) per gram of daily salt intake in overweight/obese boys, but not in normal weight boys or in girls.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrate an extremely high salt intake among 8- to 9-year-old Portuguese children. Higher salt intake was associated with higher systolic BP in boys, specifically in those who were overweight/obese. Longitudinal studies are needed to further evaluate the causal relationship between obesity and high BP and the mechanism by which salt intake modulates this relationship. Nonetheless, based on our results, we urge that dietary salt reduction interventions, along with measures to fight the global epidemic of obesity, be implemented as early in life as possible.

Hypertension in Young People: Epidemiology, Diagnostic Assessment and Therapeutic Approach

High blood pressure (BP) still remains one of the most relevant cardiovascular risk factors, also due to its persistently high prevalence and growing incidence in the general adult and elderly population. Since almost all hypertension-related cardiovascular complications, mostly including coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and congestive heart failure, occurred in adult and elderly individuals, evidence on both prevalence and clinical management of hypertension in young individuals are lacking. Therefore, the clinical impact of high BP levels in young populations remains to be explored. In the recent years, the attitude of the scientific community has changed and more attention was devoted to young individuals with hypertension, also in view of the fact that early identification of these subjects may prevent developing of established hypertension in adulthood. In addition, unhealthy lifestyle habits have progressively involved children and adolescents worldwide, thus contributing to further increase the risk of developing hypertension in young individuals. On the basis of these considerations, the present review is aimed at providing a brief reappraisal of the major aspects of hypertension in the young age, as well as at promoting interest and discussion on this important issue.

Left ventricular mass and diastolic function in obese children and adolescents

BACKGROUND

Our aims were to assess left ventricular structure and diastolic function in obese subjects stratified according to ambulatory blood pressure status, and to investigate independent predictors of the left ventricular mass (LVM) index.

METHODS

Obese subjects aged 9-19 years referred for ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) were evaluated in the cross-sectional study. In addition to biochemical and anthropometric measurements, subjects underwent ABPM, Doppler echocardiography, and treadmill exercise test.

RESULTS

According to ABPM results, 103 subjects with obesity (mean age 14.1 ± 2 years) were split in two groups: 49 hypertensive, and 54 without hypertension. Left ventricular hypertrophy was found in 16.3 % of hypertensive, and 5.6 % of normotensive. Variables included in stepwise regression analysis as potential determinants of LVM index were age, body mass index z score, waist circumference, peak systolic blood pressure on exercise test, 24-h heart rate, and night heart rate. Peak systolic blood pressure (adjusted R(2) = 0.051, β = 0.245, p = 0.013) remained as the independent predictor of LVM index. Diastolic function evaluated by mitral E/A ratio was decreased in both obese groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Early markers of cardiac disease including hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle are present in youths with obesity prior to the development of sustained hypertension.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease in children

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common hereditary renal disease, affecting one in 500 individuals. The cardinal manifestation of ADPKD is progressive cystic dilatation of renal tubules with kidney enlargement and progression to end-stage renal disease in approximately half of cases by 60 years of age. Although previously considered a condition of adults, it is clear that children and young adults are subject to the complications of ADPKD.

RECENT FINDINGS

It has been increasingly recognized that interventions early in life are necessary in order to confer the best long-term outcome in this common condition. Therefore, it is imperative for pediatricians to recognize the manifestations and complications of this disease. Until recently ADPKD management focused on general principles of chronic kidney disease. However, several recent clinical trials in children and adults with ADPKD have focused on disease-specific therapies.

SUMMARY

This review will highlight the clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and appropriate management of ADPKD in childhood and will review recent relevant clinical trials in children and adults with this condition.

Obese children and adolescents have elevated nighttime blood pressure independent of insulin resistance and arterial stiffness

BACKGROUND

Insulin resistance has been related to elevated blood pressure (BP) in obese children and may adversely affect the vasculature by arterial stiffening. The objective was to investigate whether daytime and nighttime BP were elevated and related to insulin resistance and arterial stiffness in obese children and adolescents.

METHODS

Ninety-two obese patients aged 10-18 years were compared with 49 healthy control individuals. Insulin resistance was measured as the homeostatic assessment model (HOMA), and arterial stiffness was measured as carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV).

RESULTS

Mean ± SD daytime systolic BP (SBP) (obese: 125±8.3mm Hg; control: 121±10.1mm Hg; P = 0.03) and nighttime SBP (obese: 108±10.7mm Hg; control: 102±8.2mm Hg; P = 0.0001) were higher in the obese group when compared with the control group. No difference was found in daytime diastolic BP (DBP), whereas nighttime DBP (obese: 60±6.6mm Hg; control: 57±4.8mm Hg; P = 0.001) and night-to-day BP ratios were higher in the obese group. Nighttime SBP was related to BMI z score (β = 6.0; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.9-9.1; P = 0.0002) and waist/height ratio (β = 36.7; 95% CI = 5.6-67.9; P = 0.02) in the obese group. HOMA index (obese: median = 3.7, interquartile range (IQR) = 2.3-6.0; control: median = 2.6, IQR = 1.8-3.4; P = 0.002) was higher, whereas cfPWV (obese: 4.8±0.8 m/s; control: 5.1±0.6 m/s; P = 0.03) was lower in the obese group. CfPWV was not related to logHOMA index. In multiple regression analyses, the higher nighttime BP in the obese group was independent of logHOMA and cfPWV.

CONCLUSIONS

Obese children had a higher nighttime BP when compared with the control group independently of insulin resistance and arterial stiffness. No relationship was found between insulin resistance and arterial stiffness. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT01310088.

Pediatric hypertension: An update on a burning problem

A large number of adults worldwide suffer from essential hypertension, and because blood pressures (BPs) tend to remain within the same percentiles throughout life, it has been postulated that hypertensive pressures can be tracked from childhood to adulthood. Thus, children with higher BPs are more likely to become hypertensive adults. These “pre-hypertensive” subjects can be identified by measuring arterial BP at a young age, and compared with age, gender and height-specific references. The majority of studies report that 1 to 5% of children and adolescents are hypertensive, defined as a BP > 95^th percentile, with higher prevalence rates reported for some isolated geographic areas. However, the actual prevalence of hypertension in children and adolescents remains to be fully elucidated. In addition to these young “pre-hypertensive” subjects, there are also children and adolescents with a normal-high BP (90^th-95^th percentile). Early intervention may help prevent the development of essential hypertension as they age. An initial attempt should be made to lower their BP by non-pharmacologic measures, such as weight reduction, aerobic physical exercise, and lowered sodium intake. A pharmacological treatment is usually needed should these measures fail to lower BP. The majority of antihypertensive drugs are not formulated for pediatric patients, and have thus not been investigated in great detail. The purpose of this review is to provide an update concerning juvenile hypertension, and highlight recent developments in epidemiology, diagnostic methods, and relevant therapies.

Evaluation of hypertension in children

Hypertension is an important public health problem, and increasingly children are being diagnosed with primary hypertension. As the list of secondary causes of hypertension is extensive, pediatric practitioners increasingly need to decide on investigations needed for evaluating children presenting with high blood pressure. The differentiation between primary and secondary hypertension is paramount to understanding this important health issue, since many forms of secondary hypertension require specific treatment. The review evaluates the current available guidelines and practice patterns for evaluating children with elevated blood pressure. The review also aims to provide a framework for cost-effective evaluation strategies for children with elevated blood pressure based on current recommendations and evidence.

Hypertension in the teenager

Over the last two decades, essential hypertension has become common in adolescents, yet remains under-diagnosed in absence of symptoms. Diagnosis is based on normative percentiles that factor in age, sex and height. Evaluation is more similar to adult essential hypertension than childhood secondary hypertension. Modifiable risk factors such as obesity, sodium consumption and low exercise should be addressed first. Many anti-hypertensive medications now have specific regulatory approval for children. Sports participation need not be limited in mild or well-controlled cases. Primary care physicians play an important role in reduction of cardiovascular mortality by early detection and referral when needed.

Forty-four-hour interdialytic ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and cardiovascular risk in pediatric hemodialysis patients

Background

Children undergoing chronic hemodialysis are at risk of cardiovascular disease and often develop left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Twenty-four-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is known to better predict cardiovascular morbidity than casual blood pressure (BP) measurement. Given the BP variability attributed to interdialytic fluid overload, 44-h ABPM should better delineate cardiovascular morbidity in pediatric hemodialysis patients.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, 17 children (16.7 ± 2.9 years) on chronic hemodialysis underwent 44-h interdialytic ABPM and routine echocardiogram. Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) was calculated by height-based equation; LVH was defined as an LVMI in the ≥95th percentile for height-age and gender. Hypertension was defined by the recommendations of the Fourth Report of the National High Blood Pressure Education Program for casual measurements, and by those of the American Heart Association for ABPM.

Results

Twenty-four percentage of patients were hypertensive by casual post-dialytic systolic BP, whereas 59% were hypertensive by ABPM. Eighty-eight percentage of patients had abnormal cardiac geometry: 53% had LVH. Thirty-five percentage (6 of 17) had masked hypertension, including four with abnormal cardiac geometry, of which, three had LVH. LVMI correlated with ABPM, but not with casual measurements. Strongest correlations with an increased LVMI were with 44-h diastolic BP: at night (r = 0.53, P = 0.03) and total load (r = 0.57, P = 0.02). LVH was similarly associated with 44-h nighttime BP: systolic (P = 0.02), diastolic (P = 0.01) and mean arterial (P = 0.01).

Conclusions

Casual BP measurement underestimates hypertension in pediatric hemodialysis patients and does not correlate well with indicators of cardiovascular morbidity. In contrast, 44-h interdialytic ABPM better characterizes hypertension, with nighttime parameters most strongly predicting increased LVMI and LVH.

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in pediatric renal transplantation

Hypertension is a common and serious complication after renal transplantation. It is an important risk factor for graft loss and adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Blood pressure (BP) in transplanted children should be measured not only by clinic BP (cBP) measurement, but also by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), because ABPM has distinct advantages over cBP, specifically the ability to reveal nocturnal, masked or white-coat hypertension. These types of hypertension are common in transplanted children (nocturnal hypertension 36-71 %, masked hypertension 24-45 %). It may also reveal uncontrolled hypertension in treated children, thereby improving control of hypertension. Regular use of ABPM and ABPM-guided therapy of hypertension may help to decrease cardiovascular and renal target organ damage in transplanted children. Therefore, ABPM should be routinely performed in all transplanted children at least once a year, regardless of the values of cBP.