Difference in systolic blood pressure between arm arm and ankle region in children 0-15 years old.

Arm and ankle systolic blood pressure was measured in a supine position in 95 children aged between 2 days and 16 years using either the ultrasound Doppler technique (0-6 years) or the strain-gauge technique (7-16 years). Among children below 1 year of age, the ankle systolic blood pressure was significantly lower than the arm blood pressure and lowest when recorded over the dorsal pedal artery as compared to the post-tibial artery. Children over 1 year of age had a higher ankle systolic blood pressure compared to the arm which corresponds to earlier findings among adults. The study indicates that lower limb systolic pressure is greater than upper limb systolic pressure but first demonstrable at the time when the babies begin to stand or walk. These findings might be used in evaluation of children suspected for aortic coarctation.