title: Arterial characteristics in normotensive offspring of parents with or without a history of hypertension.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this study we compared the arterial characteristics and blood pressure (BP) of normotensive offspring of two normotensive parents (OFF/NT) and normotensive offspring who had at least one hypertensive parent (OFF/HT).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 174 OFF/HT (17 to 40 years of age) and 59 OFF/NT (16 to 34 years) were recruited in Cracow, Poland (n = 138) and Pilsen, Czech Republic (n = 95). Peripheral pulse pressure (PPp) was determined from conventional and 24-h ambulatory BP. A SphygmoCor device was used to measure the central (CAIx) and peripheral (PAIx) systolic augmentation indexes, central pulse pressure (PPc), and the aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV). In multivariate analyses family clusters and significant covariates were accounted for.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The OFF/HT had higher (.14 < P < .0007) conventional BP and PPp on conventional BP measurement (121/75 v 114/71 mm Hg and 46 v 42 mm Hg) as well as on 24-h ambulatory monitoring (118/70 v 114/67 mm Hg and 48 v 47 mm Hg). OFF/HT, compared with OFF/NT, also had higher (.05 < P < .0008) PPc (28 v 26 mm Hg), PAIx (54.7% v 44.9%), CAIx (108.8% v 99.8%), and PWV (7.4 v 6.6 m/sec). However, complex adjustment including mean arterial pressure and age removed the differences between the offspring in the PAIx, CAIx, and PWV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Large-artery properties are altered in OFF/HT compared with OFF/NT. The findings from this cross-sectional study suggest that the alterations in arterial function in subjects with a family history of hypertension are determined mainly by an increased BP and age-related hemodynamic changes.
authors.affiliation: Study Coordinating Centre, Hypertension and Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Unit, Department of Molecular and Cardiovascular Research, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jitka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kucerová
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Filipovský
authors.forename: Jan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Staessen
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cwynar
authors.forename: Wiktoria
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wojciechowska
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stolarz
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuznetsova
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gasowski
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dolejsová
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Grodzicki
authors.forename: Kalina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawecka-Jaszcz
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fagard
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D032721:Adult Children; D001158:Arteries / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D011674:Pulse