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Neonatal hypertension: cases, causes, and clinical approach

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A Correction to this article was published on 27 June 2019

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Abstract

Neonatal hypertension is increasingly recognized as dramatic improvements in neonatal intensive care, advancements in our understanding of neonatal physiology, and implementation of new therapies have led to improved survival of premature infants. A variety of factors appear to be important in determining blood pressure in neonates, including gestational age, birth weight, and postmenstrual age. Normative data on neonatal blood pressure values remain limited. The cause of hypertension in an affected neonate is often identified with careful diagnostic evaluation, with the most common causes being umbilical catheter-associated thrombosis, renal parenchymal disease, and chronic lung disease. Clinical expertise may need to be relied upon to decide the best approach to treatment in such patients, as data on the use of antihypertensive medications in this age group are extremely limited. Available data suggest that long-term outcomes are usually good, with resolution of hypertension in most infants. In this review, we will take a case-based approach to illustrate these concepts and to point out important evidence gaps that need to be addressed so that management of neonatal hypertension may be improved.

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Change history

  • 27 June 2019

    The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake. Due to a production error, the wrong “Key summary points” were included. The correct key summary points are listed below.

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  1. Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Seattle Children’s Hospital and University of Washington School of Medicine, 4800 Sand Point Way NE, M/S OC.9.820, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA

    Michelle C. Starr & Joseph T. Flynn

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  1. Michelle C. Starr
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1. c; 2. d; 3. a; 4. d; 5. d.

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Starr, M.C., Flynn, J.T. Neonatal hypertension: cases, causes, and clinical approach. Pediatr Nephrol 34, 787–799 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00467-018-3977-4

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