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Subclinical Organ Damage in Children and Adolescents with Hypertension: Current Guidelines and Beyond

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Abstract

High blood pressure (BP) is becoming a growing health issue even in children and adolescents. Moreover, BP elevation in youth frequently translates into children and adult hypertension contributing to the development of cardiovascular disease. The detection of early markers of vascular damage, potentially leading to overt cardiovascular disease, is important for clinical decisions about if and how to treat hypertension and can be useful in monitoring the effectiveness of the treatment. The purpose of this review is to summarize the actual knowledge about subclinical organ damage (SOD) in hypertensive children and adolescents and its association with cardiovascular disease in children and young adults. Our focus is especially put on left ventricular mass, pulse wave velocity, carotid intima-media thickness and microalbuminuria. We also want to address the scientific evidence about possible regression of SOD and cardiovascular risk with the use of behavioural and specific anti-hypertensive therapy. Indications from current guidelines are critically discussed.

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  1. D. Marcon and A. Tagetti contribute equally to the work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Section of General Medicine and Hypertension, University of Verona, Verona, Italy

    Denise Marcon, Angela Tagetti & Cristiano Fava

  2. General Medicine and Hypertension” Unit, Department of Medicine, AOUI-Hospital “Policlinico G.B. Rossi”, University of Verona, P.le LA Scuro 10, 37134, Verona, Italy

    Cristiano Fava

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  1. Denise Marcon
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Marcon, D., Tagetti, A. & Fava, C. Subclinical Organ Damage in Children and Adolescents with Hypertension: Current Guidelines and Beyond. High Blood Press Cardiovasc Prev 26, 361–373 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40292-019-00345-1

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