Hypertension in infancy: diagnosis, management and outcome

Sodium nitroprusside, a lifesaving treatment for neonatal hypertension: an Irish experience

We present a 30+2-weeks-old (30 weeks and 2 days) male, twin 1, born by emergency caesarean section due to twin-twin transfusion syndrome (absent end-diastolic flow and cardiac anomaly in twin 2) presenting with hypertensive crisis on day 3. He was already on milrinone and propranolol. His echocardiogram showed poor left ventricular contractility and after cardiology consultation received sodium nitroprusside, which eventually saved his life by decreasing his blood pressure and improving cardiac function. As sodium nitroprusside is very rarely used for hypertensive crisis in neonates, we would like to share our experiences on dosage, challenges in administration due to its fast onset of action, criteria for monitoring for complications and finally weaning. Baby developed severe bilateral periventricular leukomalacia as a potential complication of hypertensive crisis, preceded by bilateral periventricular flare secondary to twin-twin transfusion.

Determinants of Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in the First Decade of Life: A Longitudinal Study Starting at Birth

The present prospective study assessed the association of birth weight (BW) and growth pattern on cardiometabolic risk factors in a cohort followed from birth to 10 years of age. One hundred and forty-five subjects (73 girls) who fulfilled the inclusion criteria and had all their data recorded at birth and at 5 years were enrolled. Of these, 100 (52 girls) also recorded data at 10 years. Anthropometric measurements, office and 24-hour blood pressure, and metabolic parameters were obtained. At 5 years, both BW and current weight were determinants of blood pressure and metabolic parameters; however, as the subjects got older, the impact of body size increased. Higher BW and maternal obesity increased the risk of becoming obese at 5 years while this was reduced if breastfeeding. Maternal obesity was the only factor associated with becoming obese at 10 years. Twenty-two children at 10 years had insulin values ≥15 U/L, some of whom were persistent from 5 years while in others it increased afterward. Subjects with insulin values ≥15 U/L showed significant higher values of office systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, and uric acid and lower values of high-density lipoprotein than did those with normal insulin values. Highest weight gain from 5 to 10 years and lowest BW were the main determinants of high insulin levels. In conclusion, although BW was a proxy of the events during fetal life and projected its influence later, the influence of gaining weight was a key determinant in the risk to develop obesity and metabolic abnormalities.

Characteristics of hypertension in premature infants with and without chronic lung disease: a long-term multi-center study

BACKGROUND

Many causes for neonatal hypertension in premature infants have been described; however in some cases no etiology can be attributed. Our objectives are to describe such cases of unexplained hypertension and to compare hypertensive infants with and without chronic lung disease (CLD).

METHODS

We reviewed all cases of hypertension in premature infants referred from 18 hospitals over 16 years. Inclusion criteria were hypertension occurring at <6 months of age and birth at <37 weeks gestation; the main exclusion criterion was known secondary hypertension. Continuous variables were compared using analysis of variance. Nominal variables were compared using chi-square tests.

RESULTS

A total of 97 infants met the inclusion criteria, of whom 37 had CLD. Among these infants, hypertension presented at a mean of 11.3 ± 3.2 chronological weeks of age and a postmenstrual age of 39.6 ± 3.6 weeks. Diagnostic testing was notable for plasma renin activity (PRA) being <11 ng/mL/h in 98% of hypertensive infants. Spironolactone was effective monotherapy in 51 of 56 cases of hypertension. Hypertension resolved in all infants, with an average treatment duration of 25 weeks. Significant differences between the two groups of infants were a 0.4 kg lower birthweight and a 2.5 weeks younger gestational age at birth in those with CLD (p < 0.01, p < 0.01, respectively). Hypertension presented in those with CLD 1.8 weeks later, but at the same postmenstrual age as those without CLD (p < 0.01, p = 0.45, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Premature infants with unexplained hypertension, with and without CLD, presented at a postmenstrual age of 40 weeks with low PRA, transient time course, and a favorable response to spironolactone treatment.

Clinical Practice Guideline for Screening and Management of High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents

These pediatric hypertension guidelines are an update to the 2004 "Fourth Report on the Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents." Significant changes in these guidelines include (1) the replacement of the term "prehypertension" with the term "elevated blood pressure," (2) new normative pediatric blood pressure (BP) tables based on normal-weight children, (3) a simplified screening table for identifying BPs needing further evaluation, (4) a simplified BP classification in adolescents ≥13 years of age that aligns with the forthcoming American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology adult BP guidelines, (5) a more limited recommendation to perform screening BP measurements only at preventive care visits, (6) streamlined recommendations on the initial evaluation and management of abnormal BPs, (7) an expanded role for ambulatory BP monitoring in the diagnosis and management of pediatric hypertension, and (8) revised recommendations on when to perform echocardiography in the evaluation of newly diagnosed hypertensive pediatric patients (generally only before medication initiation), along with a revised definition of left ventricular hypertrophy. These guidelines include 30 Key Action Statements and 27 additional recommendations derived from a comprehensive review of almost 15 000 published articles between January 2004 and July 2016. Each Key Action Statement includes level of evidence, benefit-harm relationship, and strength of recommendation. This clinical practice guideline, endorsed by the American Heart Association, is intended to foster a patient- and family-centered approach to care, reduce unnecessary and costly medical interventions, improve patient diagnoses and outcomes, support implementation, and provide direction for future research.

Hypertension in pediatric patients with chronic kidney disease: management challenges

In contrast to adults where hypertension is a leading cause of chronic kidney disease, in pediatrics, hypertension is predominantly a sequela, however, an important one that, like in adults, is likely associated with a more rapid decline in kidney function or progression of chronic kidney disease to end stage. There is a significant issue with unrecognized, or masked, hypertension in childhood chronic kidney disease. Recent evidence and, therefore, guidelines now suggest targeting a blood pressure of <50th percentile for age, sex, and height in children with proteinuria and chronic kidney disease. This often cannot be achieved by monotherapy and additional agents need to be added. Blockade of the renin angiotensin aldosterone system represents the mainstay of therapy, although often limited by the side effect of hyperkalemia. The addition of a diuretic, at least in the earlier stages of chronic kidney disease, might help mitigate this problem.

Antihypertensive drug exposure in premature infants from 1997 to 2013

BACKGROUND

Systemic hypertension is increasingly recognised in premature infants. There is limited evidence regarding treatment, and most published treatment recommendations are based solely on expert opinions.

METHODS

We identified all infants born ⩽32 weeks of gestation and ⩽1500 g birth weight discharged from one of 348 neonatal ICUs managed by the Pediatrix Medical Group between 1997 and 2013. We defined antihypertensive drugs as vasodilators, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, β receptor blockers, calcium channel blockers, and central α2 receptor agonists. We compared characteristics between infants who were treated with at least one antihypertensive drug during their initial hospitalisation and infants who were not prescribed antihypertensive drugs using Wilcoxon's ranked sum test or Pearson's χ2-test.

RESULTS

We identified 2504/119,360 (2.1%) infants who required at least one antihypertensive drug. The median postnatal age of first exposure was 48 days (25th, 75th percentile 15, 86), and the median length of therapy was 6 days (1, 16). Hydralazine was the most commonly prescribed antihypertensive with 1280/2504 (51.1%) treated infants exposed to the drug. More than two antihypertensive drugs were administered in 582/2504 (23.2%) infants, and 199/2097 (9.5%) of the treated infants were discharged home on antihypertensive therapy. Infants who received antihypertensive drugs were of lower gestational age (p<0.001) and birth weight (p<0.001) compared with infants not prescribed antihypertensive drugs.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study is the largest to describe current antihypertensive drug exposure in a cohort of exclusively premature infants born ⩽32 weeks of gestation. We found wide variations in practice for treating hypertension in premature infants.

Outcome of extremely low birth weight infants with a history of neonatal acute kidney injury

OBJECTIVE

To study the outcome of extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants with a history of acute kidney injury (AKI).

METHOD

In a retrospective, case control study, medical records of all ELBW infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) between Jan 2002 and Dec 2011 were reviewed. Medical records were reviewed for infants' demographics, blood pressure (BP) at NICU discharge and at ≥3 years, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at ≥2 years.

RESULTS

During the study period, 222 patients met the inclusion criteria, of whom 10% (23 out of 222) had AKI stage 2 and 3, 39% (87 out of 222) had AKI stage 1, and the rest did not have AKI. At NICU discharge, there was a difference in diastolic BP (DBP) among infants who had AKI stages 2 and 3, those who had stage 1, and those who did not have AKI (53 ± 12 vs 46 ± 9 vs 46 ± 11 mmHg respectively; p = 0.007), and 11% (23 out of 209) had hypertension (HTN). Although there was a significant correlation between the rise in SCr and DBP at NICU discharge in infants with AKI (R = 0.304; p = 0.004), there was no difference in HTN between infants with and those without AKI. At ≥2 years of age, 4% (5 out of 120) across all groups had an eGFR < 90 ml/min/1.73m² or chronic kidney disease (CKD). At ≥3 years of age, 5% (11 out of 222) had HTN.

CONCLUSION

At NICU discharge, infants with AKI stages 2 and 3 have a higher DBP than infants with stage 1 AKI and those who did not have AKI. However, there is no difference in the rate of HTN between the two groups. At ≥2 years ELBW infants are at risk for CKD independently of whether or not they develop neonatal AKI.

Renal function in the fetus and neonate - the creatinine enigma

The use of serum creatinine levels to estimate glomerular function in infants is admittedly fraught with inherent inaccuracies which are both physiological and methodological in nature. This characteristic can understandably reduce the neonatal clinician's confidence in the ability of serum creatinine levels to provide useful information relevant to their patients' medical care. The aim of this review is to provide further insight into the peculiarities of serum creatinine trends in both premature and term infants with special focus on the maturational and developmental changes occurring in the kidney during this crucial time-period. Though newer markers of glomerular function are gaining increasing traction in the clinical realm, the most prominent of which is currently cystatin C, creatinine nonetheless remains an important player in the scientific evolution of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimation. Not only do its limitations provide a level of distinction for newer markers of GFR, but its advantages persist in refining the precision of newer GFR formulae which incorporate multiple patient characteristics.

Reference ranges and impact of selected confounders on classic serum and urinary renal markers in neonatal period

PURPOSE

Renal injury in term and pre-term neonates may be an antecedent to chronic kidney disease in the child's further life. The aim of the paper was to compile a reference range for selected serum and urinary renal markers in the neonatal period for full-term (FT) and pre-term (PT) newborns.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The prospective study included 23 FT infants (birth weight - BW≥2500g and gestational age - GA≥37Hbd) and 32 PT children (BW<2500g and GA<37Hbd) in good general condition, without acute kidney injury (AKI) or sepsis. Between the 4th and 28th DOL, urinary concentrations of the studied renal markers (uCr, uNa, uOsm) were determined on a daily basis, while serum creatinine (SCr) was assessed minimum every 48-72h.

RESULTS

The mean GA and BW of the FT and PT infants were respectively as follows: 38.5±1.7Hbd; 3433±495.2g and 32.7±2.6Hbd; 1836.7±419.8g. For serum glomerular (SCr, eGFR) and tubular markers (FENa, RFI), the median values with normal ranges were compiled. For urinary renal markers (uCr, uNa, uOsm) and those values standardized for kg of body weight, percentile tables for 4-28DOL were elaborated.

CONCLUSIONS

The study has resulted in determining the normal ranges of serum glomerular and tubular renal markers, as well as percentile tables of selected urinary renal parameters during the neonatal period. The percentile tables may prove to be helpful for further standardization of other urinary parameters per urinary creatinine in neonatal population.

[Clinical efficacy of pulmonary surfactant combined with budesonide for preventing bronchopulmonary dysplasia in very low birth weight infants]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the clinical efficacy of intratracheal instillation of pulmonary surfactant (PS) combined with budesonide for preventing bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.

METHODS

Thirty VLBW infants with gestational age <32 weeks who developed neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) (grade III-IV) suffering from intrauterine infection were randomly assigned into a PS + budesonide group and a PS alone group. The changes were compared between the two groups in arterial blood gas indexes, oxygenation index (OI), duration of mechanical ventilation, duration of oxygen supplementation, incidence of BPD, mortality rate at 36 weeks corrected gestational age and incidences of other complications except BPD.

RESULTS

Compared with the PS alone group, the PS+budesonide group had a lower incidence of BPD, shorter duration of mechanical ventilation and oxygen supplementation (P<0.05). On the 2nd to 6th day after treatment, the PS+budesonide group had higher pH value of arterial blood gas and OI and lower carbon dioxide partial pressure compared with the PS alone group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the mortality rate at 36 weeks corrected gestational age and the incidences of other complications except BPD between the two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Intratracheal instillation of PS combined with budesonide can effectively reduce the incidence of BPD in VLBW premature infants with severe NRDS.

Safety of Enalapril in Infants Admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Enalapril is used to treat hypertension and congestive heart failure in infants. However, enalapril is not labeled for neonates, and safety data in infants are sparse. To evaluate the safety of enalapril in young infants, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of infants who were exposed to enalapril in the first 120 days of life and were cared for in 348 neonatal intensive care units from 1997 to 2012. We determined the proportion of exposed infants who developed adverse events, including death, hypotension requiring pressors, hyperkalemia, and elevated serum creatinine. Using multivariable logistic regression, we examined risk factors for adverse events, including postnatal age at first exposure, exposure duration, gestational age group, small for gestational age status, race, sex, 5-min Apgar score, and inborn status. Of a cohort of 887,910 infants, 662 infants (0.07%) were exposed to enalapril. Among exposed infants, 142 infants (21%) suffered an adverse event. The most common adverse event was hyperkalemia (13%), followed by elevated serum creatinine (5%), hypotension (4%), and death (0.5%). Significant risk factors for adverse events included postnatal age <30 days at first exposure and longer exposure duration. This study is the largest to date examining the safety of enalapril in young term and preterm infants without significant structural cardiac disease.

Blood pressure and heart rates in neonates and preschool children: an analysis from 10 years of electronic recording

BACKGROUND

An acceptable systolic or mean arterial blood pressure for children 0-6 years during anesthesia is unknown. Accepted blood pressures reported in standard charts for healthy awake children may not apply to those undergoing anesthesia.

AIM

Our goal was to define observed blood pressures (BP) and heart rate (HR) in children 0-5 years during anesthesia.

METHODS

Data from the electronic health record database were available for a 10-year period from June 29, 2005 to July 22, 2015. A simple band-pass filter was applied to remove artifact in the physiologic time-series data for heart rate and blood pressure, with heart rate values 40 or above 250, mean or diastolic blood pressures below 20 or above 200, and systolic blood pressures below 30 or above 200 all excluded. For each anesthetic, the centiles of physiological variables (BP, HR) were calculated.

RESULTS

Data were available for 54 896 anesthetics in children 6 years and younger. There were 898 anesthesia reports available that included blood pressure measures immediately before induction. A larger number of anesthesia records (n = 30 008) were available for intraoperative blood pressure recording. The BP decrease after anesthesia induction was most pronounced in infants 0-10 weeks of age where there was a mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) decrease of 16.6-34.5% (mean 28.6%). Systolic blood pressure decreased by 16.3-32.6% (mean 25.5%). Values above a systolic blood pressure of 60 mm Hg were only noted in half the neonates during anesthesia. Heart rates, both before and after anesthesia induction, were similar.

CONCLUSION

Heart rate while under anesthesia appears a poor indicator for blood pressure changes. Recorded blood pressures in this current study, measured immediately before induction, were consistent with those in the literature. A mean MAP decrease of 28.6% was typical in those infants 0-10 weeks of age.

Severe Hypotension After Amlodipine Use for Hypertension in a Newborn on Beta Blocker Therapy for Thyrotoxicosis

A 35-year-old woman with a 9-year history of Grave’s disease delivered a male infant weighing 2,210 g at 32 weeks of gestation by caesarean section. The neonate developed thyrotoxicosis and, at the age of 24 h, was treated with oral carbimazole (500 µg every 8 h) and propranolol (2 mg/kg/day in two divided doses). He subsequently developed hypertension on day 4, which required therapy with amlodipine (0.1 mg once daily). Severe hypotension developed within 24 h and required discontinuation of amlodipine, with initiation of intravenous inotropic support with dopamine and dobutamine (at a rate of 20 µg/kg/min). The blood pressure rapidly normalized, and both dopamine and dobutamine infusions were stopped within 36 h. A Naranjo assessment score of 6 was calculated, indicating that the severe hypotension was a probable adverse drug reaction caused by the combination of amlodipine and propranolol therapy.

Dexmedetomidine for analgesia and sedation in newborn infants receiving mechanical ventilation

This is the protocol for a review and there is no abstract. The objectives are as follows:

To determine the overall effectiveness and safety of dexmedetomidine for sedation and analgesia in newborn infants receiving mechanical ventilation compared with other non‐opioids, opioids or placebo.

We will perform subgroup analyses according to method of dexmedetomidine administration; dose of dexmedetomidine; age of initiation of dexmedetomidine; indication for mechanical ventilation; gestational age; and duration of treatment.

Novelty in hypertension in children and adolescents: focus on hypertension during the first year of life, use and interpretation of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, role of physical activity in prevention and treatment, simple carbohydrates and uric acid as risk factors

The present article intends to provide an update of the article "Focus on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of hypertension in children and adolescents" published in 2013 (Spagnolo et al., Ital J Pediatr 39:20, 2013) in this journal. This revision is justified by the fact that during the last years there have been several new scientific contributions to the problem of hypertension in pediatric age and during adolescence. Nevertheless, for what regards some aspects of the previous article, the newly acquired information did not require substantial changes to what was already published, both from a cultural and from a clinical point of view. We felt, however, the necessity to rewrite and/or to extend other parts in the light of the most recent scientific publications. More specifically, we updated and extended the chapters on the diagnosis and management of hypertension in newborns and unweaned babies, on the use and interpretation of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, and on the usefulness of and indications for physical activity. Furthermore, we added an entirely new section on the role that simple carbohydrates (fructose in particular) and uric acid may play in the pathogenesis of hypertension in pediatric age.

Effectiveness of Balloon Angioplasty in Children With Recurrent Aortic Coarctation Depends on the Type of Aortic Arch Pathology

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of balloon angioplasty (BAP) for recurrent aortic coarctation (ReCoA) in infants comparing simple and complex type of aortic arch pathology (Norwood I procedure).

BACKGROUND

ReCoA is a known complication after cardiovascular surgery for coarctation of the aortic arch.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In a single center case study, we analyzed 20 infants undergoing BAP for ReCoA comparing simple (n = 10) and complex type of aortic arch pathology (n = 10). At catherization diameter of ReCoA stenosis was 3.2 ± 0.7 mm (mean ± SD) with short localized (11/20) or long hypoplastic stenosis (9/20) before and 4.8 ± 1.2 mm after BAP (P < 0.001). Invasive systolic pressure gradient was reduced from 27.5 ± 16.2 mmHg before to 5.1 ± 6.6 mmHg after BAP (P < 0.001), comparable in simple and complex type of ReCoA. At day 1 after catherization noninvasive systolic arterial blood pressure gradient was reduced from 20.2 ± 23.1 to 6.7 ± 9.9 mmHg (P < 0.001), respectively, calculated continuous wave Doppler echo gradient from 36.3 ± 22 to 16.8 ± 9.6 mmHg (P < 0.01). Complications were aortic arch dissection (1/20), discrete aortic arch aneurysm formation (1/20), pericardial effusion (1/20), and peripheral arterial thrombosis (4/20). At a mid-term follow up of 9.5 months (1-40) after BAP, 3 infants needed early surgical reintervention due to secondary ReCoA, all with long hypoplastic aortic arch segments, but simple type of aortic arch pathology.

CONCLUSIONS

At mid-term follow up, BAP remains an effective catheter intervention for ReCoA for infants with localized ReCoA, but not with long hypoplastic aortic arch segments, even in simple type of aortic arch pathology.

Making a diagnosis of hypertension and defining treatment threshold in very low birth weight infants’ need revision?

Introduction: Recent evidence suggests that preterm birth is a possible risk factor for high blood pressure (BP) in later life. The most widely quoted blood pressure centiles for very low birth weight (VLBW, ≤1500 g birth weight) infants at corrected term gestation is based on a cohort with mostly late preterm or term infants (Zubrow curves).

Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the clinical utility of the Zubrow curves in diagnosis of hypertension in VLBW infants at their term corrected gestational age (CGA).

Patients and Methods: In a case-control study, we compared BP in 75 VLBW infants at 40 weeks CGA (cases) to 69 full term infants admitted to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) (controls).

Results: In spite of having lower weights, VLBW infants compared to term infants (2612.8 ± 546 vs. 3308.2 ± 373 g, P ≤ 0.001) had higher average systolic (88.8 ± 7.6 vs. 82.33 ± 8.5 mm Hg; P ≤ 0.001) and mean BP (61.2 ± 6.6 vs. 57.61 ± 6.9, P = 0.01). Although 41% (31/75) VLBW infants would have met the criteria for hypertension according to Zubrow curves only 4% (3/75) were diagnosed with hypertension.

Conclusion: Since Zubrow BP centiles were based on a heterogeneous population of infants including preterm and term infants, new BP centiles based on chronological data from VLBW infants would allow a better definition of hypertension in these infants and identify the threshold BP for initiating treatment.

Neonatal hypertension

Neonatal hypertension (HT) is a frequently under reported condition and is seen uncommonly in the intensive care unit. Neonatal HT has defined arbitrarily as blood pressure more than 2 standard deviations above the base as per the age or defined as systolic BP more than 95% for infants of similar size, gestational age and postnatal age. It has been diagnosed long back but still is the least studied field in neonatology. There is still lack of universally accepted normotensive data for neonates as per gestational age, weight and post-natal age. Neonatal HT is an important morbidity that needs timely detection and appropriate management, as it can lead to devastating short-term effect on various organs and also poor long-term adverse outcomes. There is no consensus yet about the treatment guidelines and majority of treatment protocols are based on the expert opinion. Neonate with HT should be evaluated in detail starting from antenatal, perinatal, post-natal history, and drug intake by neonate and mother. This review article covers multiple aspects of neonatal hypertension like definition, normotensive data, various etiologies and methods of BP measurement, clinical features, diagnosis and management.

Plasma nitrate/nitrite removal by peritoneal dialysis might predispose infants with low blood pressure to cerebral ischaemia

The underlying pathogenic mechanisms of neurological complications in infants undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) are poorly understood. We report on four male infants treated with PD who developed symptomatic cerebral ischaemia. Blood pressure (BP) levels were low both before the event and at presentation. In two patients, we observed that the removal of nitrate and nitrite by PD could have impaired the nitrate/nitrite–-nitrite oxide (NO) pathway, a system that generates NO independently of NO synthase. Our observation suggests that low BP and reduced NO bioavailability puts infants treated with PD at risk for impaired cerebral blood flow and consequently for brain ischaemia.

Minoxidil-associated anorexia in an infant with refractory hypertension

Minoxidil is a potent antihypertensive used as an adjunctive agent in refractory hypertension. It exerts an antihypertensive effect through two mechanisms: selective arterial vasodilation by activation of potassium channels in the vascular smooth muscle and stimulation of carotid and aortic baroreceptors, leading to downstream release of renin and norepinephrine. Although frequently cited in reviews of antihypertensive agents, limited data about the use of minoxidil in neonates are available. We describe an infant girl, born at 35 weeks of gestation, who was diagnosed with idiopathic hypertension after extensive diagnostic evaluation. Adequate blood pressure control was not achieved with captopril, amlodipine, and clonidine. Oliguria secondary to captopril and rapid-onset congestive heart failure due to persistent hypertension led to the introduction of intravenous agents labetalol and nitroprusside. Although adequate blood pressure control was achieved, attempts to transition back to oral agents were unsuccessful, prompting the use of minoxidil as an alternative agent. Although good blood pressure control was achieved, the infant's oral intake plummeted from 210 to 63 ml/kg/day. The anorexia quickly resolved after stopping minoxidil, and she was discharged home at 5 months of age receiving propranolol, amlodipine, and doxazosin. Use of the Naranjo adverse drug reaction probability scale indicated a definite relationship (score of 10) between the patient's development of anorexia and minoxidil therapy. To our knowledge, there have been no previous reports of minoxidil-associated anorexia in preterm or term infants. Clinicians should be aware that anorexia is a possible adverse effect of minoxidil in this patient population when initiating the drug in similar patients.

Neonatal hypertension

The incidence of neonatal hypertension (HTN) remains low, at less than 2%, and its etiology is varied. Strict definitions of HTN in neonates are unavailable, and the decision to treat is based on opinion rather than evidence. More studies are needed to define normal blood pressure in neonates and to refine current reference values, thus permitting a better definition of HTN. Most causes of neonatal HTN, the most common of which seems to be renovascular disease, are determined by history and basic clinical investigations. Treatment is guided by clinical judgment and expert opinion, given the limited number of clinical trials.

Relationship between Body Mass Index, Blood Pressure, and Visual Acuity in Residents of Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria

Aim. To study the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure (BP) on visual acuity among apparently healthy residents of Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Methodology. This is a cross-sectional descriptive study among 225 subjects (ages of 18–35 years) from whom BP, body weight, and height were collected. Visual acuity was measured using the Snellen chart following standard procedures of number of letters seen at 6-metre distance. The data were then analyzed using SPSS version 17. Results. The sampled population consists of 112 male and 113 female (mean age 31.72±14.2 years). Majority (180) of the respondents had normal visual acuity. However, compared with the respondents with normal BMI (R19.61±1.5; L19.67±1.70), visual acuity of underweight (R18.53±2.30; L18.53±2.70) and obese (R15.68±4.79; L17.73±1.70) were more deviated. Similarly, compared with respondent with normal BP (120–125/80–85 mmHg; R18.00±2.53; L18.07±3.11), hypotensive (R15.5±7.35; L15.00±10.20), and hypertensive (R15.01±21.25; L15.00±11.91) respondents had deviated visual acuity. Conclusion. Abnormal body weight (underweight and obese) and BP (hypotension and hypertension) have potential negative impacts on visual acuity. Based on the observed relationship between weights, BP, and visual acuity, eye examinations can be included as regular screening exercise for abnormal BMI and BP conditions.

Prenatal exposure to methyldopa leading to hypertensive crisis and cardiac failure in a neonate

A 2-week-old infant with normal intracardiac anatomy presented to the emergency department in a hypertensive crisis with acute cardiac failure. Despite extensive evaluation, no underlying disease was found. The patient's hypertension and cardiac dysfunction resolved after 1 week of supportive care in the PICU, and she was discharged within 2 weeks of presentation. The patient's history revealed transplacental exposure to the α-adrenergic agonist methyldopa for 10 weeks before delivery. Her age at presentation and the self-limited nature of cardiac sequelae with complete resolution of cardiac dysfunction suggest withdrawal effects from this exposure. Whereas the rebound hypertensive effects of α-adrenergic agonists are well established in the adult population, this report shows an unusual adverse outcome of in utero exposure to methyldopa.

Associations of birth weight and postnatal weight gain with cardiometabolic risk parameters at 5 years of age

The present prospective study assessed the impact of birth weight (BW) and postnatal weight gain on blood pressure and metabolic profile during the first 5 years of life. One hundred thirty-nine newborns (63 women) born at term after uncomplicated pregnancies and in the absence of perinatal illness were included. Subjects were divided according to size at birth in small, appropriate, and large for gestational age. After the initial evaluation on the second day of life, infants were followed up at 6 months and 2 and 5 years. Anthropometric parameters and blood pressure were measured at each visit and metabolic assessment was performed at 5 years of age. Among the BW groups, mothers did not differ in terms of age, smoking, and weight gain during pregnancy. BW was a positive determinant of systolic blood pressure at birth. Afterward, current weight was the strongest determinant, becoming significant at 2 years of age and progressively increasing in influence. At 5 years insulin, the homeostasis model assessment index and triglycerides were dependent on BW, current weight, and postnatal weight gain. In addition, BW was positively associated with high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and inversely so to uric acid. A positive relationship among insulin, blood pressure values, and uric acid was observed even early in life. In conclusion, the acceleration of early infant weight gain may aggravate the effects of low BW. Multiple interactions between hemodynamic and metabolic parameters foreshadow the clustering of cardiometabolic risk factors later in life.

A review of drug therapy for neonatal hypertension

Neonatal hypertension is becoming a more common diagnosis because of higher survival rates in premature infants and the need for intravascular access and invasive blood pressure (BP) monitoring. Defining hypertension in the neonatal population has been challenging, and understanding what constitutes a normal BP is still evolving.Five general classes of antihypertensives exist for the treatment of hypertension in neonates. Few studies are available to guide clinicians in the treatment of hypertension in neonates, and limited data exist regarding outcomes of hypertension in the neonatal period.

Cardiovascular and blood glucose parameters in infants during propranolol initiation for treatment of symptomatic infantile hemangiomas

OBJECTIVES

We sought to determine the effect of propranolol on cardiovascular and blood glucose parameters in infants with symptomatic infantile hemangiomas who were hospitalized for initiation of treatment, and to analyze adverse effects of propranolol throughout the course of inpatient and outpatient treatment.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort analysis was performed on 50 infants (age less than 12 months) with symptomatic infantile hemangiomas who were hospitalized for propranolol initiation between 2008 and 2012. Demographic data and disease characteristics were recorded. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures, heart rate, blood glucose values, and adverse events recorded during hospitalization were analyzed. An additional cohort of 200 consecutively treated children was also assessed for adverse events associated with outpatient propranolol use.

RESULTS

The median age among the inpatient cohort was 3.4 months (range, 0.8 to 12.0 months). Infants older than 6 months were more likely to exhibit bradycardia than were younger infants (p < 0.001). Hypotensive and/or bradycardic periods were infrequent and were not associated with observable clinical symptoms. The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures and the mean heart rate decreased significantly from day 1 of hospitalization to day 2 (p = 0.004; p = 0.008; p < 0.001), but not from day 2 to day 3, when the propranolol dose was increased to target. Hypoglycemia was rare (0.3% incidence.) Among the 250 outpatients, 2 infants developed lethargy and hypoglycemia during a viral illness and recovered without sequelae. One infant experienced recurrent bronchospasm with viral illnesses and required concomitant bronchodilator therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Frequent deviations from normal ranges of blood pressure and heart rate occur upon initiation of propranolol, but are clinically asymptomatic. These findings support that outpatient initiation of propranolol in healthy, normotensive infants appears to be a relatively safe alternative to inpatient initiation. Hypoglycemia is rare, but can occur throughout the treatment period; parent counseling is of paramount importance.

Comparison between oscillometric and intra-arterial blood pressure measurements in ill preterm and full-term neonates

Conflicting data exist regarding the accuracy of the oscillometric method of blood pressure (BP) measurement in neonates. There is limited data regarding intra-arterial BP trends in neonates. We aimed to determine the accuracy of oscillometric BP measurements and to evaluate the BP distributions in ill neonates. A total of 1492 simultaneously obtained oscillometric and intra-arterial (umbilical arterial [UAC] or radial arterial) BP measurements were used for comparisons and 125,580 intra-arterial BP readings were used to the evaluate BP distribution. There was a statistically significant difference (P < .0001) between the oscillometric and radial mean arterial BP (MAP) 4.8 ± 9.8 mm Hg, systolic BP 8.3 ± 11.6 mm Hg, diastolic BP 4.3 ± 9.3 mm Hg and between the oscillometric and UAC systolic BP 5.2 ± 11.9 mm Hg and diastolic BP -0.8 ± 10.4 mm Hg. The MAP increased with increases in weight (35.3 ± 4.92 mm Hg/kg), post-menstrual age (-0.29 ± 1.41 mm Hg/week) and advanced gestational age at birth (13.12 ± 0.90 mm Hg/week). Oscillometric BP measurements are not equivalent to the intra-arterial (UAC or radial arterial) BP in ill neonates. The BP increases with increase in weight, gestational age at birth, and post-menstrual age in ill neonates.

Midaortic syndrome: 30 years of experience with medical, endovascular and surgical management

BACKGROUND

Midaortic syndrome is often associated with refractory hypertension. The aim of our study was to better understand the short- and medium-term outcomes in this patient population utilizing a multidisciplinary management approach.

METHODS

We conducted a review of patients with midaortic syndrome treated at our institution over the past 30 years.

RESULTS

Fifty-three patients presented at a median age of 6.7 years (birth to 28.7 years). Thirty-five patients (66 %) underwent invasive management (percutaneous techniques: 21; surgical techniques: 5; both: 9). Percutaneous interventions were acutely successful in decreasing the gradient across the obstruction and degree of luminal stenosis. However, freedom from reintervention was 58 % at 1 year and 33 % at 5 years. Freedom from reintervention after a surgical procedure was longer: 83 % at 1 year and 72 % at 10 years. At the most recent follow-up, the majority of patients (69 %) were normotensive. The median duration between time of presentation and achievement of blood pressure control was 5.7 (0.4-21.1) years. The median number of anti-hypertensive medications was 1 (0-5).

CONCLUSIONS

A multidisciplinary management strategy which couples comprehensive medical management with catheter-based and surgical interventions can lead to adequate blood pressure control and preservation of end-organ function in patients with midaortic syndrome.

Hypertension in the neonatal period

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Continued interest in neonatal hypertension has led to generation of new data on normal blood pressure (BP) values in neonates, identification of new causes of hypertension in the neonatal period, and improved insights into therapy.

RECENT FINDINGS

Normal BP in neonates depends on a variety of factors, including gestational age, postnatal age, and birth weight, and may be influenced by other antenatal conditions. The incidence of neonatal hypertension is low, and it is most often seen in infants with concurrent conditions such as chronic lung disease (CLD) or renal disease, or in those that have undergone umbilical arterial catheterization. Although few data exist on efficacy and safety of antihypertensive medications in neonates, a wide variety of medications have been utilized in those who do require treatment. Hypertension resolves over time in most infants, although robust long-term outcome data are lacking.

SUMMARY

Our understanding of neonatal hypertension continues to evolve. Although better data are available on normal BP and the incidence of hypertension, we still need studies focused on appropriate treatment and long-term prognosis.