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

OBJECTIVE: 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.

METHOD: 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.

RESULTS: 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.

CONCLUSION: 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.