[The clinical and echocardiographic parameters at rest and during mental arithmetic stress in preadolescent subjects...

Previous studies have showed that a genetic predisposition and/or a family history of essential hypertension may play a significant role in the development of cardiovascular changes in borderline hypertensive patients. Moreover, mental stress has been identified as contributing to the development of cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to compare the possible changes in blood pressure and Doppler echocardiographic parameters in resting and during mental arithmetic stress in 21 children with a hypertensive parent (Group I) and 21 age-matched children with normotensive parents (Group II), similar for body mass index, alimentary and life habits, and not differing in resting blood pressure, heart rate and Doppler echocardiographic parameters. Mass index was slightly but not significantly high in Group I with respect to controls. During mental stress only in the children with a family history of hypertension there was a significant increase (p < 0.02) in systolic blood pressure. A positive relation between the increase in systolic blood pressure and end-diastolic thickness of interventricular septum and posterior wall was observed in the same group. In addition a close relation (p < 0.05) between mass index and end-systolic left ventricular stress at rest was evidenced, whereas a negative relation (p < 0.03) between the increase in systolic blood pressure on one side and the early peak diastolic filling velocity (Vmax E) and the ratio of early to atrial peak diastolic filling velocity (Vmax E/Vmax A), on the other side, were found.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)