title: Aortic dilatation in children with systemic hypertension.
abstract: The aim of the study was to determine the presence of aortic dilatation in hypertensive children, the prevalence of which is 4% to 10% in hypertensive adults. Prospectively enrolled multiethnic children, untreated for their hypertension, underwent an echocardiogram to exclude congenital heart disease and evaluate for end-organ damage and aortic size. The aorta was measured in the parasternal long-axis view at three levels: the sinus of Valsalva, supra-tubular junction, and the ascending aorta. Aortic dilatation was determined by z-score >2 at any one of the levels measured. Hypertension was defined as blood pressure above the 95th percentile based on the Fourth Working Group criteria confirmed by 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Among 142 consecutive hypertensive children (median age, 14 years; 45% females) aortic dilatation was detected in 2.8% (95% confidence interval, 1%-7%; median age, 16 years; 100% females). Children with aortic dilatation, when compared with those without, had significantly more aortic valve insufficiency (P = .005) and left ventricular hypertrophy (P = .018). Prevalence of aortic dilatation was 2.8% and was associated with significantly more aortic insufficiency and left ventricular hypertrophy in comparison to those without aortic dilatation.
authors: Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX, USA. Electronic address: Monesha.gupta@uth.tmc.edu.
authors: Monesha
authors: M
authors: Gupta-Malhotra
authors: Division of Cardiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
authors: Richard B
authors: RB
authors: Devereux
authors: Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
authors: Archana
authors: A
authors: Dave
authors: Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
authors: Cynthia
authors: C
authors: Bell
authors: Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
authors: Ronald
authors: R
authors: Portman
authors: Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, Memorial Hermann Hospital, The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
authors: Diana
authors: D
authors: Milewicz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Echocardiogram; aortic insufficiency; essential hypertension; left ventricular hypertrophy