[Blood pressure responses in children of normotensive and of hypertensive parents treated with pressor stimulus].
OBJECTIVE
To compare cardiovascular reactivity in adolescents with and without family history of hypertension.


METHODS
Thirty two subjects, males, students, aging between 13 to 18 years old were examined. One half of them had no family history of hypertension and the other half had at least one hypertensive parent. Basal blood pressure level was obtained before the application of the following selected tests: isometric handgrip exercise test, cold pressor test and arithmetic mental stress test. The blood pressure values were obtained by a digital, oscilometric device, previously calibrated.


RESULTS
The subjects with family history of hypertension exhibited higher basal levels of both systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.10). Concerning the tests applied, the subjects with family history of hypertension also exhibited higher responses, but only the responses of the diastolic blood pressure to the mental stress test was statistically significant (p < 0.10).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings point to the need of a special follow-up of children with a family history of hypertension.
Cavalcante
J W
JW
Universidade do Amazonas-Manaus/CNPq.
Cavalcante
L P
LP
Pacheco
W S
WS
de Menezes
M G
MG
Gama Filho
C G
CG
D000293:Adolescent; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D003080:Cold Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male
Comportamento da pressão arterial em filhos de normotensos e filhos de hipertensos submetidos a estímulos pressóricos.