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Sequelae of Hypertension in Children and Adolescents

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Pediatric Hypertension

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Abstract

Data obtained from autopsy studies as well as noninvasive imaging techniques have demonstrated that target organ changes occur in children and adolescents with mild to moderate elevations in blood pressure. These chronic elevations in blood pressure in pediatric patients induce changes in cardiac structure and function. The cardiac changes occur in parallel with alterations in the vascular system and subsequent development of atherosclerosis. Subclinical changes in renal function and microalbumin excretion are also noted in these patients. Mild to moderate elevations in blood pressure also impact cognitive functioning in children. The adverse effects of severe hypertension in children and adolescence on these organ systems are also well-known. Since the publication of the last edition of this chapter, several longitudinal cohort studies have been initiated to elucidate the significance of these alterations to better define appropriate blood pressure targets and treatment guidelines.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Atrium Health Levine Children’s, Charlotte, NC, USA

    Donald J. Weaver Jr.

  2. Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Mark M. Mitsnefes

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  1. Donald J. Weaver Jr.
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  2. Mark M. Mitsnefes
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Correspondence to Donald J. Weaver Jr. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA

    Joseph T. Flynn

  2. Pediatric Nephrology Unit, Mass General for Children at MGB Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Julie R. Ingelfinger

  3. Department of Pediatrics Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Tammy M. Brady

Section Editor information

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Tammy Brady MD

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Weaver, D.J., Mitsnefes, M.M. (2023). Sequelae of Hypertension in Children and Adolescents. In: Flynn, J.T., Ingelfinger, J.R., Brady, T.M. (eds) Pediatric Hypertension. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-06231-5_29

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-06231-5_29

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