Abnormal Central Pulsatile Hemodynamics in Adolescents With Obesity: Higher Aortic Forward Pressure Wave Amplitude Is Independently Associated With Greater Left Ventricular Mass.

We hypothesized that increased aortic forward pressure wave amplitude (Pf), which is determined by characteristic impedance (Zc) in the proximal aorta, is the primary hemodynamic determinant of obesity-associated higher left ventricular (LV) mass in adolescents. Aortic pulsatile hemodynamics were measured noninvasively in 60 healthy adolescents (age 14-19 years; 42% male; 50% black) by sequential recordings of pulse waveforms via tonometry, brachial blood pressure, and pulsed Doppler and diameter of the LV outflow tract using 2-dimensional echocardiography. Adolescents who were overweight/obese (n=23; age 16.

Exercise stress echocardiography after childhood Ross surgery: functional outcome in 26 patients from a single institution.

Adult studies suggest a better functional outcome after aortic valve replacement with a pulmonary autograft compared with mechanical or homograft valves. Little is known about functional results after Ross surgery in growing children. This study reports formal exercise stress echocardiographic data from 26 pediatric Ross patients.

Primary hypertension at a single center: treatment, time to control, and extended follow-up.

We present data on presentation, treatment, and follow-up of 65 pediatric patients with primary hypertension treated over the past 12 years, including initial anthropometric data, pharmacologic treatment, time to control for both systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP), and maintenance of control over time. Data was normalized to standard deviation scores (SDS) for mathematical analysis, and antihypertensive medication dosages were converted to dosage equivalents for a single member of each antihypertensive class. We used multiple regression analysis and Kaplan- Meier survival curves to determine the time to control, medication, and dose effectiveness.