Role of hypertension in progression of chronic kidney disease in children

Purpose of reviewHypertension is an independent risk factor for progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in children. Children with early CKD develop hypertension secondary to renal disease. This review aims to highlight recent advances that help us better understand the current role of hypertension in progression of CKD in children.Recent findingsThere is increasing evidence that children with CKD who have hypertension develop early atherosclerosis and cardiac adaptive changes. Emerging data from pediatric research in CKD show that elevated blood pressure is associated with the presence of abnormal subclinical markers of cardiovascular disease including increased carotid intima-media thickness, pulse wave velocity and left ventricular mass index. There is also some evidence that these early cardiovascular changes are reversible. Twenty-four hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is recommended in children with CKD by the American Academy of Pediatrics to diagnose hypertension.SummaryHypertension is associated with subclinical cardiovascular disease in children with CKD. Early diagnosis of hypertension by ABPM and identification of subclinical cardiovascular changes provide a window for intervention, which may reverse early cardiovascular disease, thereby delaying dialysis and improving cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.