Arterial characteristics in normotensive offspring of parents with or without a history of hypertension.
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.
Kucerová
Jitka
J
Study Coordinating Centre, Hypertension and Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Unit, Department of Molecular and Cardiovascular Research, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Filipovský
Jan
J
Staessen
Jan A
JA
Cwynar
Marcin
M
Wojciechowska
Wiktoria
W
Stolarz
Katarzyna
K
Kuznetsova
Tatiana
T
Gasowski
Jerzy
J
Dolejsová
Milena
M
Grodzicki
Tomasz
T
Kawecka-Jaszcz
Kalina
K
Fagard
Robert
R
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