Exaggerated blood pressure reactivity in the offspring of first-cousin hypertensive parents

ABSTRACT

To study blood pressure and blood pressure reactivity in young offspring of normotensive or hypertensive parents who are consanguineous [first cousins] or are not blood-related. Blood pressure, heart rate and body mass index [BMI] were measured in 9-10 year-old male offspring of 19 pairs of first-cousins normotensive, 16 pairs of first-cousin hypertensive and 12 pairs of non-blood-related hypertensive parents. The offspring of first-cousin hypertensive parents exhibited the greatest systolic and diastolic blood pressure reactivity to their first casual blood pressure measurement, while the offspring of first-cousin normotensive parents showed the least reactivity. The offspring of the hypertensive parents who were not blood-related showed an intermediate reactivity. Basal systolic blood pressure [SBP] was also highest in the offspring of first-cousin hypertensive parents, and their basal diastolic blood pressure [DBP] was higher than that in offspring of first-cousin normotensive parents. The augmented blood pressure response in the offspring of hypertensive parents may have prognostic implications and serve as an important and significant indicator of predisposition to hypertension later in life