Secondary forms of hypertension in children and adolescents

Secondary forms of hypertension are more common in children than in adolescents. After careful clinical evaluation, most causes of secondary hypertension in children are readily identifi able. The causes for secondary hypertension are noted in this chapter and discussed in depth elsewhere in this text. Although adolescents have a higher incidence of elevated BP compared to young children, teens more often have primary rather than secondary hypertension. In this chapter, we also discuss the clinical challenge of trying to identify a secondary cause for hypertension in a child or adolescent when none is obvious. Improved methods for predicting secondary hypertension in asymptomatic children that could help direct the most cost-effective work-up are needed and would also reduce the likelihood of missing a treatable cause of hypertension.