2. Learning points
Normal blood pressures in children
Measurement of Blood pressure in children
Etiology of Hypertension in children
Evaluation of children with hypertension
Treatment of hypertension in children
4. Blood Pressure in Children and
Adolescents
Normal range of blood pressure is determined
by body size and age
Blood pressure standards developed based on
age, gender and height of healthy population
measurement preferred in the right upper
extremity
5. DEFINITION
❖ Hypertension is defined as average SBP and/or
diastolic BP that is ≥ 95th percentile for gender , age
and height on 3 or more occasions.
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6. CLASSIFICATION OF HYPERTENSION
❖ Normal - <90th percentile of SBP and /or DBP for the age gender
and height
❖ Prehypertension- 90th to <95th percentile and 120/80 even if <90th
percentile
❖ Stage 1 hypertension - 95th to 99th percentile + 5mm Hg
❖ Stage 2 hypertension - >99percentile + 5mm Hg
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8. ❖ White-coat hypertension
❖ > 95th percentile in a physician’s office or clinic who
is normotensive outside a clinical setting.
❖ (Ambulatory BP monitoring is usually required to
make this diagnosis.)
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9. Which children should get their blood
pressure checked?
❖ All children 3 years of age and older should have
their blood pressure measured at all health care
encounters, including both well child care and acute
care or sick visits.
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10. ❖ children younger than 3 with comorbid conditions
❖ History of prematurity
❖ History of low birth weight or NICU stay
❖ Presence of congenital heart disease, kidney
disease, or genitourinary abnormality
❖ Family history of congenital kidney disease
❖ Recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI), hematuria,
proteinuria
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11. ❖ Transplant of solid organ or bone marrow
❖ Malignancy
❖ Taking medications known to increase blood
pressure (steroids, decongestants, nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs], beta-adrenergic
agonists)
❖ Presence of systemic illness associated with
hypertension (neurofibromatosis, tuberous
sclerosis)
❖ Evidence of increased intracranial pressure
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13. How should blood pressure
be
measured in children?
❖ calm and free of anxiety
❖ sitting quietly for 5 minutes, with back supported,
both feet on the floor and
❖ right cubital fossa supported at heart level.
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15. METHODS
Palpatory Method
BP recording is 10 mm Hg less than
that obtained by auscultatory
method .
Auscultatory Method
Preferred method. BP tables are
based on it.
Doppler Study Non invasive procedure
Ambulatory Blood Pressure
Monitoring
White-coat hypertension
Target-organ injury risk
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16. POINTS TO BE REMEMBERED
❖ BP should be recorded in all 4 limbs.
❖ Cuff should not be too tight (low BP recording) or
too loose (high BP recording).
❖ subsequent BP monitoring should be done in the
same limb and position.
❖ BP is 10-20mm Hg higher in lower limbs
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17. Etiology of Hypertension
“Primary” (essential)
-rising impact of obesity (~30% of obese with HTN)
“Secondary”
18. Primary Hypertension
mild or asymptomatic
stage 1 hypertension
less common
Children frequently overweight
19. Secondary HTN in Children
More common in children than adults
Consider this possibility in every child with HTN
Majority have renal or renovascular disease
history and physical exam will give clues
21. When to suspect secondary HTN
A very young child (<10 years)
Higher BP readings
No family history of HTN
Poor response to treatment
22. CAUSES OF HYPERTENSION IN PEDIATRIC POPULATION
Renal Causes Renal Parenchymal diseases (78%)
Renal vascular diseases (12%)
Cardiovascular CoA(2%)
Condition with large stroke volume (PDA, AV fistula)
Endocrine
Hyperthyroidism
Excessive Catecholamine levels (Pheochromocytoma)
Adrenal dysfunction (CAH 11β, 17 α hydroxylase
deficiency)
Hyperaldosteronism (Conn's Syndrome, Renin Producing
Tumors)
Hyperparathyroidism
Neurogenic Raised ICT, Poliomyelitis, LGB.
Drugs and Chemical
Sympathomimetic drugs , Amphetamines, Steroids,
OCP, Heavy matal poising (Hg, Lead), Cocaine,
Cyclosporine
Miscellaneous
Hypercalcemia, After Coarctation repair, Pre eclampsia
etc.
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23. CLINICAL MANIFESTATION OF
HYPERTENSION
❖ mild hypertension - asymptomatic
❖ Severe hypertension - headache, dizziness, nausea,
vomiting, irritability, personality changes.
❖ complications like neurological, CHF, Renal
dysfunction, Stroke.
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24. HISTORY
APPROACH TO A PATIENT
❖ Present and Past History
– Neonatal - prematurity, BPD, umbilical artery
catheterization .
– Cardiovascular- History of CoA or surgery for it, history of
palpitation , Headache, excessive sweating (excessive
catecholamine levels).
– Renal- History of obstructive uropathy, UTI, radiation,
trauma or surgery to kidney area.
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29. Evaluation of HTN in Children and
Adolescents
Must begin with:
-thorough history (including hx of sleep disorder),
physical examination
-laboratory evaluation
-assessment of cardiovascular risk factors:
overweight
low plasma HDL cholesterol
high plasma triglycerides
abnormal glucose tolerance
30. Laboratory evaluation of HTN
Basic:
Serum chemistries, BUN, Cr, PRA, Aldosterone level
CBC
Urinalysis and Urine culture
Renal ultrasound with doppler
Evaluation for comorbidity:
Fasting Lipid profile
Fasting glucose
Drug screen (if hx of drug use)
Polysomnography (if hx of sleep disorder)
Evaluation for end-organ damage:
Echocardiogram
Retinal exam
31. Additional Evaluation
24hr ABPM
Renovascular imaging
-Renal scan
-Duplex Doppler flow studies
-MRA, CTA
-Arteriogram
Other labs
-Plasma and urine metanephrines
-Plasma and urine steroids
35. MANAGEMENT
Prehypertension or
asymptomatic, Stage 1 Primary HTN
( who do not have evidence of end-organ damage
or diabetes )
Lifestyle modifications(Non-pharmacologic
interventions)
re-evaluated in six months
Not controlled
Antihypertensive
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36. Non pharmacologic interventions-
❖ Weight reduction.
❖ Low salt intake*.
❖ Regular aerobic exercise.
❖ Dietary Approaches- fresh vegetables, fruits, and low-fat dairy
❖ Avoidance of smoking.
*Can start with recommending “no added salt” with ultimate
goal of achieving the current recommendation of 1.2 grams/day
total for 4- to 8-year-olds and 1.5 grams/day for children 9 years
and older
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39. Guidelines for use of antihypertensive agents in
children
Start with a single drug
Start at lowest recommended dose
Increase dose until desired effect
Once highest recommended dose is reached (or
side effect develops), may introduce second
agent
40. Goals of antihypertensive therapy
❖ Reduction of BP to < 95th percentile without any
concurrent conditions .
❖ Reduction of BP to <90th percentile with concurrent
conditions (eg.Hyperlipidemia ,End organ damage,
Obesity, CKD Complications etc)
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42. COMBINATIONS TO BE AVOIDED
❖ α or β blocker + clonidine (antagonism)
❖ β blocker + CCB (marked bradycardia/ AV block).
❖ Any 2 drugs of same class.
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43. Indications for antihypertensive drug
❖ Symptomatic hypertension
❖ Secondary hypertension
❖ Hypertensive target organ damage
❖ Diabetes( types 1 & 2)
❖ Persistent hypertension despite nonpharmacologic
measures
therapy
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44. Hypertensive emergency
❖ Severe symptomatic hypertension with BP well above 99th
percentile .
acute illness (eg, postinfectious glomerulonephritis or acute renal
failure),
excessive ingestion of drugs or psychogenic substances, or
exacerbated moderate hypertension.
Admit to the ICU!
Goal is to safely lower BP
Use titratable short-acting IV antihypertensive for BP
management
45. Hypertensive crisis
❖ Severe symptomatic hypertension with BP well above
99th percentile .
❖ Hypertensive emergencies(encepalopathy,chf)
controlled reduction in BP
25% in first 8hrs
then gradually normalising BP over 26-48 hrs
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48. CONCLUSIONS
❖ Hypertension is a silent killer. All children >3 years of
age attending OPDs should have their BP recorded
(Special circumstances in children < 3 years).
❖ Thorough history and physical examination followed
by relevant investigations can clinch the cause of
hypertension.
❖ Hypertension is a curable disease.
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