Investigation and management of hypertension in children. A personal perspective

Abstract

The prevalence of hypertension in children is of the order of 1%-3%. Of these children, 10% will have severe hypertension and in the majority the increased blood pressure will be secondary to renal disease. Nephrologically orientated investigation is therefore important. The most helpful investigations are: peripheral plasma-renin activity, 99mTc dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scan, main and segmental renal vein renin measurements and renal angiography plus 123I metaiodobenzyl guanidine (MIBG) scan in suspected phaeochromocytoma. Drug treatment of accelerated hypertension is most successfully undertaken by intravenous labetalol or sodium nitroprusside; sustained moderate-to-severe hypertension by a beta-blocker plus a vasodilator or an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor with or without a diuretic; mild hypertension by diet, diuretic and if necessary by more powerful hypotensives. Surgical treatment by revascularization or nephrectomy and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty can be successful. Utilizing the current range of investigational and therapeutic tools the aetiology and appropriate management of hypertension can be effectively and safely undertaken in the majority of hypertensive children.