氯沙坦对高血压病人24小时血压的影响

目的观察氯沙坦对高血压病人24小时血压的影响,探讨其临床意义。 方法20例Ⅰ-Ⅱ级高血压病人,入院后停药2周,服氯沙坦50mg,qd,疗程12周,1个月后血压若未降至140/90mmHg以下,可加大剂量到100mg,qd,治疗前后复查24小时动态血压。以二次给药间距终末时血压下降数除以给药间距中最大血压下降数值作为药物降压的谷/峰比(T∶P),以夜间血压均值与白昼血压均值比较时下降10%或大于10mmHg者为夜间血压下降或"杓型者",反之为夜间血压不下降者或"非杓型者"。 结果　发现(1)氯沙坦能明显降低高血压病人的24小时平均血压(mmHg)(SBP134±14比113±8,DBP89±12比71±5,P<0.01);有效率为85.0%.(2)氯沙坦降压的SBP和DBPTP比率分别为78.6%(48%～93.9%)和76.2%(46.4%～89.6%).SBP,DBP和MBP的平滑曲线指数分别是1.23±0.32,1.36±0.41和1.32±0.38.(3)对夜间血压高于正常值(120/80mmHg)的高血压患者,氯沙坦明显降低夜间血压(mmHg)(SBP142.6±8.8降至116.3±11.4,DBP89.2±9.6降至74.3±6.8,P<0.01),对夜间血压已属正常者,氯沙坦无进一步降压作用(SBP120.3±3.7比116.3±6.8;DBP78.2±6.1比74.3±7.2,P>0.05).(3)24小时SBP,DBP下降幅度与治疗前SBP,DBP明显相关,r分别为0.803和0.797,P<0.01. 结论　氯沙坦是一种安全有效的降压药,其主要优点是24小时平稳降压,谷峰比满意,夜间无过度降压的危险,晨间血压上升受到明显抑制,基础血压越高,降压效果越好。     

老年类风湿关节炎合并原发性高血压患者动态血压的昼夜节律及血压变异性

目的探讨类风湿关节炎(RA)合并原发性高血压(EH)患者24 h动态血压的昼夜节律变化及血压变异性(BPV)的特点。方法纳入44例诊断为RA合并EH的老年患者作为观察组,同时选取42例仅诊断为EH的老年患者作为对照组,再随机抽取27例健康体检人群为正常组。入组者均进行24 h无创动态血压检查。24 h血压水平指标包括24 h平均收缩压(SBP)、24 h平均舒张压(DBP)、日间平均收缩压(d SBP)、日间平均舒张压(d DBP)、夜间平均收缩压(n SBP)、夜间平均舒张压(n DBP);BPV参数包括24 h收缩压标准差(24 h SBP-SD),24 h舒张压标准差(DBPSD),日间收缩压标准差(d SBP-SD)和舒张压标准差(d DBP-SD),夜间收缩压标准差(n SBP-SD)和舒张压标准差(n DBP-SD)。根据d SBP和d DBP的差值与d SBP的比值判定血压昼夜节律变化,比较观察组与对照组间血压昼夜节律的差异。结果观察组与对照组n SBP、n DBP、n SBP-SD和n DBPSD均有显著差异(P0.05);观察组与正常组24 h SBP、24 h DBP、d SBP、d DBP、n SBP、n DBP、n SBP-SD差异显著(P0.05)。对照组与正常组24 h SBP、24 h DBP、d SBP、d DBP、n SBP、n DBP、n SBP-SD差异显著(P0.05)。观察组中存在昼夜节律异常者占95%(42/44),其中反杓型及浅杓型发生率分别为55%(24/44)、41%(18/44);对照组中昼夜节律异常占57%(24/42),均为浅杓型;两组间差异显著(P0.05)。结论 RA合并EH的老年患者夜间SBP及DBP的BPV较EH患者明显增大,同时该组患者的昼夜血压节律更易出现异常,提示自身调节功能损害更大。     

24h平稳降压对高血压靶器官保护的临床意义

目的:以血压负荷和血压变异性为观察指标,探讨原发性高血压(EH)患者 24h平稳降压对靶器官保护的临床意义。方法:对114例EH患者和22例正常人(对照组)进行24h无创性动态血压监测,EH患者按靶器官损害(TOD)程度分为3期,以及根据左室质量指数(LVMI)分为伴左室肥厚(LVH)和不伴 LVH(NLVH)组。结果:①EH患者LVMI与全天、白天、夜间平均收缩压(mSBP)、SBP负荷及其变异性呈正相关(P<0.01),与夜间 SBP 变异性相关性最强( r = 0. 45, P < 0.01);②24hSBP 负荷< 25%者 TOD 发生率低于≥25%者(27.3%∶71.4%,P<0.01);24 hSBP变异性<11.9者TOD发生率显著低于≥11.9者(28.1%∶88.0%,P<0.01)。结论:24 hSBP负荷及其变异性增大同样是高血压LVH的危险因素;降低 24 h尤其夜间 SBP负荷及其变异性可实现24 h平稳降压,有助于更好地保护靶器官。     

血浆神经肽Y神经降压肽水平与高血压患者血压昼夜变化和靶器官损害的研究

目的通过观察血浆中神经肽Y（NPY）、神经降压肽（NT）水平的变化,探讨其对原发性高血压（EH）患者24h血压昼夜变化和靶器官损害影响的临床意义。方法对EH患者90例,对照组30例行24h动态血压监测,采用放射免疫分析法（RIA）在不同时间点（2：00,8：00,16：00）分别测定血浆NPY、NT含量;同时检测其心、脑、肾靶器官功能。结果（1）根据动态血压监测的结果将EH者分为杓型组与非杓型组。（2）EH患者各时间点血浆NPY水平均明显高于对照组（P〈0．01）,而NT水平低于对照组（P〈0．05）。（3）与杓型组相比,非杓型组NPY水平在各时间点升高和NT水平降低更为明显,尤其在夜间2：00时更为显著,差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。（4）与无靶器官受损组相比,EH伴心、脑、肾靶器官损害的患者血浆NPY升高,而血浆NT水平明显降低（P〈0．01）;血浆NPY、NT在各靶器官损害患者之间差异无统计学意义。结论血浆NPY、NT水平昼夜变化可能是导致EH患者血压昼夜节律紊乱的原因之一。EH患者伴靶器官损害时,血浆NPY水平明显升高和NT水平降低不仅参与了EH的发生、发展,也参与了靶器官受损的过程。     

“杓型”与“非杓型”高血压动态血压变异性的临床分析

目的 探讨原发性高血压(EH)患24h动态血压(ABP)昼夜节律变化呈“杓型”与“非杓型”与血压负荷值、心脑血管损害及血糖、血脂的相关关系。方法 随机选择EH176例，根据从ABP监测，分为“杓型”(A组)与“非杓型”(B组)对比分析两组与血压负荷值、心脑血管疾病(脑梗死、脑出血及冠心病)及血糖、血脂的相关关系。结果 B组的脑血管意外、冠心病患病率明显高于A组(P＜0．05)，而高脂血症、糖尿病患病率两组无显性关系(P＞0．05)。结论 EH从ABP昼夜节律与血压负荷值及心、脑血管损害有相关性，与高脂血症及糖尿病无关。     

航海人员高血压24小时动态血压变化特征

目的探讨航海人员(包括水下和水面作业)中高血压患者24小时动态血压监测(ABPM)参数变化特征.方法选择偶测收缩压≥140 mmHg和或舒张压≥90 mmHg的37例航海人员中高血压患者行24 h ABPM, 并与94例血压正常的航海人员(<140/90 mmHg)对比观察.结果航海人员中高血压患者24 h平均SBP和DBP、白昼或夜间平均SBP和DBP,白昼或夜间SBP和DBP负荷值,均明显高于血压正常组;高血压患者夜间SBP和DBP均值下降>10%(>10 mmHg);水下作业组的高血压患者白昼或夜间SBP和DBP负荷值高于水上作业组.结论本组航海人员中高血压患者均显示杓型高血压,可能与轻、中度高血压(35/37)较多有关;水下作业组高血压患者负荷值升高明显,提示水下作业人员的工作环境与生活条件等受多种复杂因素影响,易产生增压反应有关.     

老年高血压患者动态血压负荷值与靶器官损害相关性分析

目的:探讨老年EH患者的动态血压负荷值与其靶器官损害的相关性。方法:选择178例老年EH患者进行24h动态血压监测,其中46例无靶器官损害为A组,132例并发心、脑、肾靶器官损害分别为B、C、D组,分析其24h、白昼和夜间血压负荷值。结果:A组血压负荷值明显高于正常值,但夜间血压负荷值较白昼血压负荷值明显降低。B、C、D组血压负荷值均较A组血压负荷值明显增高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01),且其白昼与夜间血压负荷值较接近。结论:与不存在靶器官损害的老年EH患者相比,存在靶器官损害者的夜间血压负荷值明显增高。     

收缩压,舒张压,脉压在糖尿病并高血压病人肾脏损害中的意义

目的研究2型糖尿病及高血压病患者脉压(PP)与尿微量白蛋白(UmAlb)的关系,为早期防治肾脏损害提供临床依据.方法对271例患者1, 2型糖尿病患者(DM)87例、高血压病患者(EH)85例和2型糖尿病合并高血压病患者(DM+EH)99例进行血压检测和UmAlb测定.结果 DM组UmAlb与收缩压(SBP)和舒张压(DBP)相关性不显著(P>0.05);而与PP显著正相关(P<0.05).EH组UmAlb与SBP和PP呈显著正相关(P<0.05),而与DBP相关性则不显著(P>0.05);EH+DM组UmAlb与SBP、DBP、PP均呈显著正相关(P<0.01及0.05).UmAlb与PP相关的显著性在EH+DM组中最大,r=0.282,P=0.002,三组患者中反映肾功能的其他指标则与SBP、DBP和PP无相关性.结论在上述3种病人中只有PP总是与早期肾损害相关.因此,为防止DM和EH患者肾脏损害加重,降低PP甚为重要.     

原发性高血压患者血压变化与血清电解质的关系

目的 :研究原发性高血压 (EH)患者的血压变化与血清电解质浓度之间的关系。方法 :对 85例 EH患者和 30例正常人进行动态血压、偶测血压和血清电解质检查 ,比较血压各参数与血清 K 、Na 、Na / K 比值之间的相关性。结果 :EH患者 2 4h平均收缩压 (SBP)、舒张压 (DBP) ,日间平均 SBP、DBP,夜间平均 SBP、DBP与血清 K 浓度呈明显负相关 ;与 Na / K 比值呈明显正相关 (均 P <0 .0 1) ;偶测血压与血清 Na 、K 浓度和 Na /K 比值之间无相关性 (P >0 .0 5 ) ;2 4h、日间、夜间平均 SBP与血清 Na 浓度均呈正相关 (P <0 .0 1)。结论 :在EH患者中 ,血清 K 、Na / K 比值是全日血压的决定因素之一。     

高血压病血压昼夜节律与左室肥厚关系的研究

目的 探讨血压负荷(BPL)与高血压靶器官损伤程度的关系,以及左室重量指数(LVMI)与动态血压(Ambulatory Blood Pressure,ABP)各参数之间的相关性。方法 采用无创性携带式动态血压监测仪对30例正常血压者,1级和2级高血压患者各25例进行了动态血压监测,同时用超声心动图检测左室重量指数。结果(1)正常组与1级高血压组之间血压负荷(SBP:4.83±2.95％vs59.75±22.12％;DBP:3.75±2.05％vs 61.75±18.24％)比较有显著性差异(P均<0.01);1级高血压组昼夜负荷差较大,呈杓型改变。2级高血压组的血压负荷(SBP:94.94±5.08％vs59.75±22.12％;DBP:91.75±10.08％vs61.75±18.24％)明显高于1级组(P均<0.01)。昼夜负荷呈非杓型改变。2级组左室肥厚(LVH)异常检出率76％明显高于1级组20％(P<0.01)。(2)高血压组LVMI与夜间SBP和DBP均显著正相关(P均<0.01),与夜间SBP和DBP下降率均显著负相关(P均<0.01)。结论 血压负荷对高血压靶器官损害程度的评价和预测有临床价值。夜间SBP与LVMI的相关性比DBP与LVMI的相关性更佳。     

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and management of hypertension at a cardiac clinic in Kumasi Metropolis,Ghana

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is considered a good intervention strategy to avoid misdiagnosis of hypertension and allow for targeted treatment of patients with hypertension. This study sought to assess the contribution of ABPM to blood pressure (BP) control and antihypertensive therapy at a cardiac clinic in Ghana. Medical records of 97 patients, aged 18‐85 years (mean 55), were reviewed. Among patients with clinic BP (CBP) and ambulatory BP recorded on the same day, we assessed for the different hypertension phenotypes, CBP control 6 months following ABPM, and changes to antihypertensive therapy after review of the ABPM records in patients with controlled and uncontrolled ambulatory BP. From the clinic and ambulatory BP records measured at baseline, the proportion of patients with white‐coat uncontrolled hypertension (WUCH) was 19.5% (17/87) and those with masked uncontrolled hypertension (MUCH) was 16.1% (n = 14). A significant reduction in average systolic CBP in the overall cohort (−6.2 mm Hg, P < .01) and in the uncontrolled subgroup (−8.8 mm Hg, P < .001) at follow‐up was observed. After review of the ABPM records, 51.7% of the patients on treatment had changes made in their antihypertensive therapy. Antihypertensive therapy was deintensified or left unchanged in majority of the patients with WUCH and sustained controlled hypertension. In patients with MUCH and true uncontrolled hypertension (TUCH), therapy was intensified. In conclusion, ABPM improved clinical decision‐making for antihypertensive therapy and BP control. ABPM should therefore be used more often in hypertension and cardiac clinics in low/middle‐income countries for optimal care.     

White coat effect in treated and untreated patients with high office blood pressure. Relationship with pulse wave velocity and left ventricular mass index.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate in hypertensive patients whether the white coat effect is associated with target-organ damage and whether it is modified by anti-hypertensive therapy. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study we evaluated blood pressure (BP) measured in the office and by 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) as an index of aortic stiffness, and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) in 88 subjects (aged 49 +/- 2 years) with white-coat hypertension (WCH, office BP > 140/90, daytime BP < 130/84 mmHg), 31 under antihypertensive therapy, 57 untreated, and in 115 patients with office and ambulatory hypertension (HT, aged 51 +/- 2 years, office BP > 140/90, daytime BP > 135/85), 65 under antihypertensive therapy, 50 untreated. In a longitudinal study in 15 patients with HT and in 11 patients with WCH we evaluated the influence of antihypertensive therapy (> 6 months) on office and ambulatory BP and on PWV. RESULTS: The intensity of the white coat effect (office BP-daytime BP) was greater in WCH than in HT. Taking all subjects, the white coat effect did not correlate with PWV (r = 0.08, ns) or with LVMI (r = 0.01, ns), whereas daytime BP correlated significantly with PWV (r = 0.41, p < 0.01) and with LVMI (r = 0.32, p < 0.05). WCH subjects showed lower PWV and LVMI than HT subjects. Treated and untreated WCH, with similar office and daytime BP, showed similar values of PWV and LVMI. Treated and untreated HT showed similar office BP values but treated HT showed lower daytime BP and PWV values. In the longitudinal study, antihypertensive therapy significantly reduced daytime BP and PWV values in the 15 HTs, whereas in the 11 WCH it did not alter daytime BP or PWV values. CONCLUSIONS: 1. In both WCH and HT (treated and untreated) the intensity of the white coat effect does not reflect either the severity of hypertension measured by target organ damage or the efficacy of antihypertensive treatment. 2. In WCH antihypertensive therapy does not improve either ambulatory BP values or damage to target organs.     

Enhanced blood pressure variability in a high cardiovascular risk group of African Americans: FIT4Life Study

High blood pressure (BP) levels in African Americans elicit vascular inflammation resulting in vascular remodeling. BP variability (BPV) correlates with target organ damage. We aimed to investigate the relationship between inflammatory markers and BPV in African Americans. Thirty-six African Americans underwent 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM). BPV was calculated using the average real variability index. Fasting blood samples were assayed for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and white blood cell (WBC) count. Significant associations between hs-CRP and 24-hour systolic variability (r = 0.50; P = .012) and awake systolic variability (r = 0.45; P = .02) were identified after adjusting for age, body mass index, and 24-hour mean BP. ABPM variables were compared between the hs-CRP tertile groups. In post-hoc analysis, there was a significant difference in 24-hour and awake periods for both systolic and diastolic variability among the groups. TNF-α and WBC count showed no associations with ABPM variables. hs-CRP was associated with systolic variability, and higher levels of hs-CRP were related with greater BPV. Higher inflammatory status influences wider fluctuations in systolic BP, which in turn could facilitate early progression to target organ damage independent of absolute BP levels in African Americans.     

Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring in Pediatric Renal Transplantation

Hypertension is a common and serious complication after renal transplantation. It is an important risk factor for graft loss and adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Blood pressure (BP) in transplanted children should be measured not only by clinic BP (cBP) measurement, but also by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), because ABPM has distinct advantages over cBP, specifically the ability to reveal nocturnal, masked or white-coat hypertension. These types of hypertension are common in transplanted children (nocturnal hypertension 36?C71?%, masked hypertension 24?C45?%). It may also reveal uncontrolled hypertension in treated children, thereby improving control of hypertension. Regular use of ABPM and ABPM-guided therapy of hypertension may help to decrease cardiovascular and renal target organ damage in transplanted children. Therefore, ABPM should be routinely performed in all transplanted children at least once a year, regardless of the values of cBP.     

Assessment of blood pressure in patients with Type 2 diabetes: comparison between home blood pressure monitoring, clinic blood pressure measurement and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.

AIMS: To compare a home blood pressure (BP) monitoring device and clinic BP measurement with 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS: Fifty-five patients with type 2 DM had BP measured at three consecutive visits to the DM clinic by nurses using a stethoscope and mercury sphygmomanometer (CBP). Twenty-four-hour ambulatory BP was measured using a Spacelabs 90207 automatic cuff-oscillometric device (ABPM). Subjects were then instructed in how to use a Boots HEM 732B semiautomatic cuff-oscillometric home BP monitoring device and measured BP at home on three specified occasions on each of 4 consecutive days at varying times (HBPM). RESULTS: Correlations between HBPM and ABPM were r = 0.88, P < 0.001 for systolic BP and r = 0.76, P < 0.001 for diastolic BP, with correlations between CBP and ABPM being systolic r = 0.59, P < 0.001, diastolic r = 0.47, P < 0.001. HBPM agreed with ABPM more closely compared with CBP (CBP +10.9/+3.8 (95% confidence intervals (CI) 6.9, 14.8/1.6, 6.1) vs. HBPM +8.2/+3.7 (95% CI 6.0, 10.3/2.0, 5.4)). The sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of HBPM in detecting hypertension were 100%, 79% and 90%, respectively, compared with CBP (85%, 46% and 58%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with Type 2 DM, home BP monitoring is superior to clinic BP measurement, when compared with 24-h ambulatory BP, and allows better detection of hypertension. It would be a rational addition to the annual review process. Diabet. Med. 18, 431-437 (2001)     

The Complexity of Masked Hypertension: Diagnostic and Management Challenges

Masked hypertension, defined as discordant in-office normotension versus out-of-office hypertension, is present in approximately 10 % to 40 % of patients not receiving antihypertensive treatment. Not only are persons with prehypertension more likely to have masked hypertension, but they also frequently develop target organ damage before transitioning to established sustained hypertension. Moreover, the percentage of persons with masked hypertension increases in the presence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or chronic renal failure. The gold standard for diagnosing masked hypertension is the 24-hour ambulatory BP monitor (ABPM), but home BP monitoring (HBPM) has also been a useful alternative procedure. Importantly, initiating antihypertensive treatment exclusively with the use of in-office BP monitoring may result in almost one-third of patients remaining with high-risk masked uncontrolled hypertension, which underscores the importance of HBPM and ABPM as supplements to in-office BP monitoring for the effective treatment of hypertension.     

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in a nonacademic setting. Effects of age and sex.

Twenty-four-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurements (ABPM) are likely to eliminate the stress of visits and observer bias in office blood pressure (BP) recordings, allow consideration of the circadian variability in BP, and correlate well with target organ damage. To define the prevalence of "white coat" hypertension in a rural community to a nonacademic setting, and to assess age and sex related differences, we studied 131 patients who had more than two prior office diastolic BP measurements greater than 90 mm Hg and less than 115 mm Hg. Blood pressure was measured every 10 to 60 min for 24 h using the SpaceLabs 90207 device. Office BP readings were higher than ABPM in the group as a whole, in individual age groups, and in both sexes. The differences were more pronounced at night. Average differences between office and ambulatory BP ranged between 14.4 +/- 1.7/2.9 +/- 2.0 (ABPM at 10:00), and 33.8 +/- 2.3/22.8 +/- 1.5 mm Hg (systolic/diastolic +/- SE) (ABPM at 01:00). The nighttime drop in systolic BP was not apparent in subjects more than 65 years old. Women had a proportionately higher mean office BP than men (115.0 +/- 0.9 office v 110.2 +/- 1.3 mm Hg ABPM in women and 112.3 +/- 0.9 v 104.3 +/- 1.1 mm Hg in men) (P = .013), and the elderly did not display the relationship between ambulatory and office mean BP seen in younger subjects (r = 0.15, P = .30 v r = 0.36, P = .0004, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Is Daytime Systolic Load an Important Risk Factor for Target Organ Damage in Pediatric Hypertension?

The aim of this study was to compare ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring (ABPM) data and determine which hypertension type is a risk factor in target organ damage. A total of 82 children (47 boys) with suspected hypertension based on office BP measurements and considered hypertensive by ABPM were studied. Target organ damage included the following: 35.3% hypertensive retinopathy, 25.6% microalbuminuria, 15.8% increased left ventricular mass index, 29.2% increased carotid intima‐media thickness (cIMT), 24.3% high augmentation index (AIx), and 19.5% high pulse wave velocity (PWV). The association between BP load, PWV, and cIMT was statistically significant. There were significant correlations between daytime systolic BP load, PWV, AIx, and cIMT. A statistically significant difference was also detected between nighttime systolic BP load, PWV, and cIMT values and nighttime diastolic BP load levels and values of AIx and cIMT. There was also a statistically significant difference between the high level of nighttime diastolic BP load and cIMT. The authors found that target organ damage was seen more often in children with primary hypertension who had systolic loads.     

Hypertensive target-organ damage in the very elderly

In people aged >80 years, the so-called very elderly, there is uncertainty about the relation between hypertension and cardiovascular morbidity. The aims of this study were to investigate whether hypertension in people aged >80 years is associated with target-organ damage, over and above the effects of age, and to determine whether ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) could improve on conventional blood pressure monitoring (CBPM) in predicting target-organ damage. Investigations included echocardiographic measurement of left ventricular mass index (LVMI), brain magnetic resonance imaging assessment of periventricular hyperintensity (PVH), urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR), aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV), and 24-hour ABPM. Forty-three subjects, at a mean age 84.3 years, were studied, 22 normotensive (NT) and 21 hypertensive (HT). CBP was 184/89 and 145/76 mm Hg in the HT and NT groups, respectively. In men, LVMI was significantly greater in HT subjects, 157+/-37 vs 123+/-15 g/m2 in NT subjects (P<0.05). In women, LVMI was similar in both groups. Urinary ACR was greater in HT than in NT subjects (log ACR, 1.21+/-0.50 vs 0.95+/-0.23; P<0.05). Cerebral PVH grade was higher in the HT subjects (2.6+/-0.8 vs 2.2+/-0.9), although this difference was not significant. Aortic PWV did not differ between the 2 groups. ABPM was positively associated with urinary ACR and cerebral PVH, independent of its correlation with CBPM. In advanced old age, HT is associated with evidence of target-organ damage. ABPM can improve on CBPM in predicting very elderly subjects with HT target-organ damage.     

White Coat Hypertension: to Treat or Not to Treat?

Definition of white coat hypertension (WCH) traditionally relies on elevated office blood pressure (BP) during repeated visits concomitant with normal out-of-office BP values, as assessed by home and/or 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring measurements. Accumulating evidence focusing on the association of WCH with target organ damage and, more importantly, with cardiovascular events indicates that the risk conveyed by this condition is intermediate between normotension and sustained hypertension. This article will review a number of issues concerning WCH with particular emphasis on the following: (1) prevalence and clinical correlates, (2) association with target organ damage and cardiovascular events, (3) therapeutic interventions. Data will refer to the original WCH definition, based on out-of-office BP determined by 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring; at variance from home BP measurement, this approach rules out the potentially confounding effect of a clinically relevant abnormal BP phenotype such as isolated nocturnal hypertension.