The prevalence of hypertension in children with renal scars

Abstract

Background: Hypertension (HTN) is a late outcome of congenital or acquired renal scar. We used ambulatory blood pressure to assess the early blood pressure abnormalities in children with history of urinary tract infection with various degrees of renal scars.

Methods: Between 2009 and 2011, 60 (45 females, 15 males) children aged 5-15 years and height equal or more than 120 cm with previous history of febrile urinary tract infection were entered into the study. All children went on 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (24-H ABPM). Updated classification of 24-H ABPM was used to interpret the results.

Results: Masked hypertension was detected in 5% of cases, hypertension in 8.4%, and white coat hypertension in 11.7%. Pre-hypertension was seen in 23.3% of children. There was significant correlation between abnormal blood pressure and the severity of renal parenchymal scar (r=0.39, P value=0.004), vesicoureteral reflux (r= 0.34, P value=0.009), microalbuminuria (r= 0.39, P value=0.004), and carotid intima media thickness (r=0.41, P value=0.006).

Conclusions: This study revealed the utility of 24-H ABPM in early detection of hypertension and pre-hypertension in children with severe renal scars and past history of urinary tract infection.