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White coat hypertension in two adolescents
Y Yamaguchi1, M Awazu, S Matsuoka
1Department of Pediatrics, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Pediatric Nephrology (Berlin, Germany)
|April 1, 1999
Summary
White coat hypertension in adolescents is diagnosed when clinic blood pressure is high but 24-hour ambulatory monitoring is normal. This study highlights the importance of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring for accurate diagnosis in pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Hypertension Research
- Clinical Diagnostics
Background:
- Elevated blood pressure readings in a clinical setting can be misleading.
- Accurate hypertension diagnosis in adolescents is crucial for long-term health.
- Differentiating true hypertension from transient elevations is essential.
Observation:
- Two adolescent males presented with consistently high blood pressure readings during multiple clinic visits.
- No underlying causes for hypertension or evidence of target organ damage were identified in either patient.
- Initial assessments indicated potential hypertension requiring further investigation.
Findings:
- 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring revealed normal blood pressure levels for age and sex in both patients.
- Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring data contradicted the high readings obtained in the clinic.
- The diagnosis of white coat hypertension was confirmed through ambulatory monitoring.
Implications:
- White coat hypertension can be present in adolescent populations.
- Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring is a critical tool for diagnosing hypertension in children and adolescents.
- Avoiding unnecessary long-term antihypertensive treatment is possible with accurate diagnosis.