Hypertension in Childhood - Review of Diagnosis and Management [Article in Croatian]

Abstract

Hypertension in childhood is far less common than in the adult population. Diagnostic procedures are aimed at establishing blood pressure levels, identifying secondary causes of hypertension and evaluating the possibilities cardiovascular risk factors. Therapeutic intervention includes both lifestyle management and the use of medications: diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, beta-blockers, and calcium channel blockers. The goal of the therapy is to reduce blood pressures to levels lower than the 90th percentile for both systolic and diastolic blood pressures for children of similar age, gender and height. By reducing blood pressure to the normal range, long-term cardiovascular morbidity and mortality may be reduced.