title: Circadian blood pressure rhythm in normotensive offspring of hypertensive parents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to explore the circadian blood pressure (BP) rhythm using ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) in normotensive children with a family history of essential hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  Group 1 consisted of children with hypertensive mothers and/or fathers (n = 20), Group 2 consisted of children with hypertensive grandparents (n = 20), and Group 3 consisted of children with normotensive parents (n = 20). All participating children underwent a 24-h ABPM and echocardiography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significantly higher systolic burden was found in children with hypertensive parents (p < 0.05) and grandparents (p < 0.05) compared to controls. Ambulatory BP measurements had a higher daytime systolic BP in Group 1 compared to controls (p < 0.05). While left ventricular (LV) posterior wall thickness was similar in Group 1 and Group 2, it was significantly higher in both of these groups compared to the controls. The LV mass index (LVMI) was significantly higher in Group 1 than in controls (p < 0.05). However, diastolic BP was significantly higher in dippers compared to non-dippers (p < 0.05). LV posterior wall thickness, interventricular septum thickness and LVMI were significantly higher among non-dippers compared to dippers (p < 0.05). In children with a family history of hypertension, a positive correlation between nocturnal systolic BP and LVMI was found, and increasing nocturnal BP values were associated with increasing LVMI (p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In children with a family history of hypertension, target-organ damage may precede the clinical detection of hypertension, and in those with a nocturnal non-dipper status, a more marked effect on LVMI may occur.
authors.forename: Rabia Tutuncu
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Toker
authors.affiliation: Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Medical Faculty, Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Eskisehir, Turkey. yldrmaly@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.forename: Tevfik
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.forename: Birsen
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ucar
authors.forename: Zubeyir
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kilic
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000235:genetics; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000235:genetics; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D040941:Heredity; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult