Neonatal and infant hypertension

Abstract

Neonatal hypertension as a clinical entity has been recognized since the 1970s, and yet we still do not have a complete understanding of the physiologic blood pressure changes occurring over the first year of life. Blood pressure changes rapidly in the newborn period during hemodynamic adaptation to the extrauterine environment, especially in preterm neonates. Measurement methods have evolved to lessinvasive blood pressure monitoring, but there are still improvements needed in measurement techniques. The incidence of neonatal hypertension does not seem to be increasing despite increasing complexity of the population due to technologic advances. Risk factors or causes of hypertension can be found in most infants but treatment can be challenging. Most infant hypertension resolves over time although premature and low birth weight infants are at risk of future hypertension. This chapter will describe proper measurement of infant blood pressure, illustrate the expected changes in blood pressure during the first year of life, as well as explore evaluation, management, and follow-up of neonatal and infant hypertension.