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Diagnostic Evaluation of Pediatric Hypertension

Pediatric Hypertension

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Abstract

The management of hypertension in the pediatric population begins with a thorough diagnostic evaluation which can be tailored to the individual patient based on age, symptoms, and severity of hypertension. We outline four phases of evaluation which are integral to the optimal management of hypertension in children. Phase 1 seeks to determine whether the patient is truly hypertensive in the nonmedical setting. This can be accomplished with either ambulatory blood pressure monitoring or self-monitored (home) blood pressure monitoring. Once hypertension is confirmed, the Phase 2 provides the initial screening for potential etiologies, hypertensive end-organ damage, and comorbidities. Phase 3 of evaluation further defines any abnormality identified during screening, and the Phase 4 determines the significance and remediability of the abnormality. By systematically using the four phases outlined in this chapter, the clinician can conduct a comprehensive yet thoughtful evaluation of the hypertensive patient.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pediatric Nephrology and Hypertension, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin Street, MSB 3.121, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Joyce P. Samuel & Rita D. Swinford

  2. Pediatric Therapeutic Area, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Route 206 & Provinceline Road, One Health Plaza, East Hanover, NJ, 07936, USA

    Ronald J. Portman

Authors
  1. Joyce P. Samuel
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  2. Rita D. Swinford
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  3. Ronald J. Portman
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joyce P. Samuel .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Nephrology, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington, USA

    Joseph Flynn

  2. Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Julie R. Ingelfinger

  3. Arkansas Children's Hospital, University of Arkansas Medical Science, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA

    Karen Redwine

Section Editor information

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Arkansas Children's Hospital, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 1 Children's Way, 72202, Little Rock, AR, USA

    Karen M. Redwine MD

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Samuel, J.P., Swinford, R.D., Portman, R.J. (2017). Diagnostic Evaluation of Pediatric Hypertension. In: Flynn, J., Ingelfinger, J., Redwine, K. (eds) Pediatric Hypertension. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31420-4_32-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31420-4_32-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-31420-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-31420-4

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Diagnostic Evaluation of Pediatric Hypertension
    Published:
    24 May 2022

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31420-4_32-2

  2. Original

    Diagnostic Evaluation of Pediatric Hypertension
    Published:
    21 April 2017

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31420-4_32-1

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