[Evaluation of borderline arterial hypertension in young adults by ambulatory arterial pressure measurements].

Casual measurements of blood pressure (BP) with a mercury manometer and ambulatory BP recordings with the Spacelabs apparatus at the rate of one measurement every 15 minutes during 24 hours were carried out in two groups of young male adults of the same age. One group consisted of 105 normotensive controls (age 21.2 +/- 1.5 years, weight 69 +/- 8 kg, height 177 +/- 8 cm, casual BP 129/75 mmHg). The other group comprised 104 subjects with borderline hypertension (BHT) as defined by the WHO criteria (age 21.2 +/- 1.6 years, weight 74 +/- 12 kg, height 177 +/- 7 cm, casual BP 148/83 mmHg). Mean levels of recorded BP in controls were: 24 hours 122/70 mmHg, active periods (9 a.m. to 8.30 p.m.) 128/74 mmHg, night 111/64 mmHg. The corresponding values in BHT subjects were: 24 hours 132/83 mmHg, active periods 137/79 mmHg, night 118/67 mmHg. There was no difference between mean casual BP measurements and mean BP recordings during periods of activity in controls, whereas BP recordings during periods of activity were lower in BHT subjects. Results of the two measurement methods showed important individual variations. BP variability (variation coefficient = VC) in BHT subjects was more pronounced in respect of systolic arterial pressure than in controls: Syst VC 24 h: Contr. 12 p. 100, BHT 13 p. 100, p less than 0.001; Diast VC 24 h: Contr. 17 p. 100, BHT 18 p. 100, p less than 0.05. In both populations there was no difference in VC between night and day.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)