title: Control of hypertension in treated children and its association with target organ damage.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of our study was to investigate the control of hypertension (HT) in treated children using ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring (ABPM).
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed all ABPM studies in our center. Controlled HT was defined as systolic and diastolic BP index (patients' BP divided by the 95th percentile) at daytime and nighttime <1.0 or alternatively as BP load (percentage of BP readings above the 95th percentile) <25% in children on antihypertensive therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 195 ABPM studies were included. The mean age was 13.6 ± 4.0 years. One hundred and thirty two children had renoparenchymal HT, 10 renovascular (RVH), 10 endocrine, 4 cardiovascular, 29 primary (PH) and 5 children other forms of HT. 53% of all children had controlled HT. There was no difference in the prevalence of controlled HT between primary and secondary HT (52% and 53%) using the BP index criterion. Children with renoparenchymal HT had significantly better control of HT than children with RVH (58% vs. 20% P = 0.02). The use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) monotherapy was significantly more effective in controlling HT than the use of calcium-channel blockers (CCB, P = 0.02). The prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy in children with uncontrolled HT (assessed in 58 patients) was significantly higher than in children with controlled HT (46% vs. 13%, P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first pediatric study, to our knowledge, on BP control in hypertensive children using ABPM. It indicates that control of HT is inadequate in ~50% of treated children. Inadequate control of HT is associated with target organ damage in this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Motol, Charles University Prague, Second Medical School, Prague, Czech Republic. tomas.seeman@lfmotol.cuni.cz
authors.forename: Tomáš
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Seeman
authors.forename: Lukáš
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dostálek
authors.forename: Jiří
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gilík
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004232:Diuretics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004232:Diuretics