Blood pressure values in children with intrauterine growth retardation

Background: Low birth weight has been shown to be strongly related to hypertension in adult life. Objectives: To determine whether blood pressure is higher in children with intrauterine growth retardation than in control subjects. Methods: Blood pressure was measured in 58 children aged 4-6 years with IUGR and in 58 age-matched controls. The control children, whose birth weight was appropriate for gestational age, were also matched for gestational age. Results: The children with IUGR had significantly higher mean values of systolic (P<0.05) and diastolic blood pressures (P<0.05) and mean arterial pressure (P<0.05). Significant differences in blood pressure values were found between preterm IUGR (n=21) and preterm controls (P<0.05). Conclusions: These data indicate that children with IUGR may be at higher risk of hypertension already in childhood.