Early intervention may decrease risk for end-organ damage in children genetically predisposed to primary hypertension, according to a presentation at the annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies (USA).

The current study began with physicians at a university nephrology clinic who speculated there might be genetic contributions to development of primary hypertension in children. Researchers followed 276 patients and developed a database to track each patient's family history. Heritability was estimated using a method that compares the relative contribution of genes to environment in traits with a polygenic basis.

Investigators found that 49 percent of children with primary hypertension had parents with primary hypertension, whereas only 24 percent of children with secondary hypertension had parents with primary hypertension. In addition, 10 percent of children with primary hypertension had parents with secondary hypertension, while 46 percent of children with secondary hypertension had parents with secondary hypertension.

John R. Hayes, Ph.D., a statistician, and Renee F. Robinson, Pharm.D. M.P.H., study investigator, discussed their conclusions. "We demonstrated a relationship between genetics in primary and possibly secondary hypertension," Hayes said. "A large number of genes appear to be involved in children with primary hypertension, but we could not eliminate the role of environmental and dietary factors. Children with secondary hypertension may have just one or two primary genes involved. We need to involve molecular geneticists to help determine which specific genes, and how many, cause the different types of hypertension."

Robinson said, "If we can identify children at risk for developing primary hypertension and intervene at an earlier age, it will help prevent end-organ damage."