PURPOSE: To evaluate technical aspects of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in normal adolescents. METHODS: Forty five normal adolescents (27 female), 10-18 years old. RESULTS: ABPM recordings showed a mean of 90% successful readings; 30% of the patients complained of sleep disruption related to the functioning of the ABPM monitor; the mean systolic, diastolic and heart rate fall during sleep was 13%, 23% and 24% respectively; the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure load, while awake, was in male adolescents 25.4±27.7% and 11.8±14.6%, and in female adolescents, 17.5±18.7% and 11.8±11.4%, respectively; the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure load, while asleep, was in male adolescents 15.4±22.9% and 2.8±4.9% and, in female adolescents, 10.5±18.2% and 1.8±2.7%, respectively; the mean diastolic values of the first two hours of recording were higher than the ones obtained during the rest of the hours of recording while awake; different mean systolic, diastolic and heart rate values were found during the afternoon and nocturnal sleep periods. CONCLUSION: ABPM was well accepted by the adolescent population, with good technical results.
blood pressure; ambulatory blood pressure monitoring; adolescent
