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Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring: a versatile tool for evaluating and managing hypertension in children

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Abstract

In recent years, pediatric practitioners have increasingly used ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) monitoring for evaluating blood pressure (BP) abnormalities in children. ABP monitoring in adults is superior to casual BP measurements for predicting cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, and whereas the association with target-organ damage in children is not as definitive, early evidence does seem to parallel the adult data. In addition to confirming hypertension at diagnosis, ABP monitoring may be useful for identifying isolated nocturnal hypertension, characterizing BP patterns, and assessing response to therapeutic interventions. This article reviews current evidence supporting the use of ABP monitoring in children and discusses limitations in our understanding of this technology, specifically focusing on indications for its use and interpretation of the large quantity of data obtained by ABP monitoring.

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Abbreviations

ABP:

ambulatory blood pressure

BP:

blood pressure

CMS:

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

CV:

cardiovascular

HTN:

hypertension

LVH:

left ventricular hypertrophy

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Nephrology and Hypertension, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX, USA

    Alisa A. Acosta

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Nephrology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences & Arkansas Children’s Hospital, 800 Marshall Street, Slot 512-14, Little Rock, AR, 72202, USA

    Karen L. McNiece

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  1. Alisa A. Acosta
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  2. Karen L. McNiece
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Correspondence to Karen L. McNiece.

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Acosta, A.A., McNiece, K.L. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring: a versatile tool for evaluating and managing hypertension in children. Pediatr Nephrol 23, 1399–1408 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00467-008-0766-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00467-008-0766-5

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