Blood pressure and its reactivity in the offspring of first cousin hypertensive and first cousin normotensive parents: a preliminary report.

The aim of this preliminary study was to determine whether young offspring of first cousin hypertensive parent(s), have higher blood pressure (BP) reactivity in response to their first BP measurement, as compared to the offspring of first cousin normotensive parents. The BP of 135 boys aged 9-10 years was measured, for the first time ever, after a 10-min supine rest, and subsequently, twice at 10-min intervals. The offspring of first cousin hypertensive parent(s) reacted with significantly higher systolic and diastolic BP than the offspring of normotensive first cousin parents in all three measurements. This study indicates that at an early age, the offspring of first cousin hypertensive parents, react with exaggerated BP response at their first casual BP measurement. We hypothesise that familial aggregation of BP may show more expression amongst the offspring of consanguineous marriage of hypertensive parent(s).