[Selected problems of diagnosis, natural course and prognostic significance of borderline arterial hypertension. III. Long-term studies of borderline hypertension in children and adolescents].

Cardiological reevaluation was carried out in a group of subjects aged 19-28 years in whom elevated (n = 80) or normal blood pressure (n = 69) had been found 10 years earlier. Control physical examination was extend to 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. In both groups differences in systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels after 10 years are characterized by significant (p less than 0.001) negative correlation with its initial values. Elevated blood pressure (greater than 140/90 mmHg) was found in 21 patients of the studied group (23.3%) and in 4 controls (5.8%, p less than 0.001). The results of blood pressure monitoring are in accordance with traditional measurements and confirm equalization of mean blood pressure values, maintenance of group differences in diastolic pressure and correctness of diagnosis (at 10 years) of borderline or mild arterial hypertension. Complaints reported by the patients as well as ECG studies do not suffice for verification of young persons with elevated blood pressure and risk of hypertension. In this respect it is more useful to repeat measurements by using continuous automatic recording devices although considerable variations in blood pressure levels in longterm observations in young subjects indicate the need of careful prognosis concerning evolution of the disease.