Pediatric Hypertension and End-Stage Renal Disease

Pediatric hypertension is not an uncommon diagnosis, affecting about 3.5% of all children. Most childhood hypertension is associated with obesity, but elevated blood pressure can also be the presenting symptom of a secondary disease process. Moreover, no matter the cause of hypertension, early identification can improve long-term health outcomes as childhood hypertension predicts hypertension in adulthood. In 2017, the American Academy of Pediatrics revised their 2004 guidelines regarding blood pressure screening for all children. Here, we discuss an illustrative case of a 16-year-old girl with hypertension and underlying nephrotic syndrome whose diagnosis was delayed due to inadequate blood pressure screening. Given the varying practices regarding the interpretation of blood pressure data in the outpatient setting, it is important for primary care providers to understand the updated guidelines and the indications for referral. [Pediatr Ann. 2020;49(6):e258-e261.].