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Improvement of left ventricular mass with antihypertensive therapy in children with hypertension

Juan C Kupferman1, Kara Paterno, Joseph Mahgerefteh

  • 1Division of Pediatric Nephrology and Hypertension, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY 11219, USA. jkupferman@maimonidesmed.org

Pediatric Nephrology (Berlin, Germany)
|April 16, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Antihypertensive therapy effectively reduces left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in children with hypertension. Blood pressure control significantly improves LVH, demonstrating the importance of managing hypertension in pediatric patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Hypertension Management
  • Cardiovascular Health

Background:

  • Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a significant concern in hypertensive children, with limited data on its regression.
  • Effective management of pediatric hypertension is crucial for preventing long-term cardiovascular complications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the impact of antihypertensive therapy on left ventricular mass in hypertensive children.
  • To evaluate the regression of LVH in response to blood pressure control.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of medical records of hypertensive children with baseline and follow-up echocardiograms.
  • Analysis of changes in blood pressure z-scores (SBPZ, DBPZ), left ventricular mass index (LVMI), and body mass index z-score (BMIZ).
  • Use of enalapril-based antihypertensive regimens in most patients.

Main Results:

  • The LVH group showed significant reductions in SBPZ, DBPZ, and LVMI following treatment (p<0.01).
  • No significant changes were observed in BMIZ in the LVH group.
  • The no-LVH group did not exhibit significant changes in SBPZ, DBPZ, BMIZ, or LVMI.
  • A significant correlation was found between the change in LVMI and the percentage change in SBPZ (r=0.477; p=0.025).

Conclusions:

  • Antihypertensive therapy is effective in regressing left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive children.
  • Effective blood pressure control is key to improving LVH in this pediatric population.
  • Further research is warranted to explore long-term outcomes and optimal treatment strategies.

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