Frequency of hypertension assessed with ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in children with renal damagey

Objective: To determine the frequency of hypertension in children with renal scarring. Methods: The present study was conducted between February 2013 and April 2015 in the Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Diyarbakir Child's Hospital. A total of 54 pediatric patients (aged 6-17) diagnosed with renal scarring were included in the study. Dimercaptosuccinic acid renal scans were used for the diagnosis of renal scarring. Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring was performed in all patients using a Spacelabs 90217. We also searched for urinary microalbuminuria. Results: HT was identified in 7 (13%) patients with renal scarring during the office measurements. On the other hand, 23 (42.7%) patients were found to have hypertension by Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring. Patients showing severe and mild involvements on dimercaptosuccinic acid renal scans were compared in terms of frequency of hypertension and microalbuminuria; however, no statistically significant difference was found. Conclusion: Renal scarring presents a risk for hypertension in children. Office blood pressure measurement is insufficient for hypertension detection in children with renal scarring; therefore, Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring should be performed to establish accurate diagnosis.