Maternal Hypertension During Pregnancy and High Blood Pressure in Children Preliminary communication

Abstract

A group of 29 womn with previous pre-eclampsia/hypertension in pregnancy and 37 of their children were investigated. At follow-up 7–12 years later, all mothers had mild to moderate hypertension. The children had a significantly higher blood pressure than age and sex-matched controls. Intracellular Na⁺ in erythrocytes from the children was normal but potassium was significantly higher compared to normotensive controls.

The history of maternal essential hypertension and previous pre-eclampsia/hypertension in pregnancy seems to indicate an increased risk for high blood pressure in children, evident before puberty.