[Isometric exercise and cold pressor test in young men with a family history of essential hypertension].

An exaggerated pressor reaction to the isometric exercise and cold pressor test (CPT) is found to be a predictor or future hypertension. In the two groups of young males: 51 men with positive family history of essential hypertension (EH) (mean age: 24.3 +/- 3.3 years, group S) and 11 men with negative history of EH (mean age: 23.5 +/- 3.7 years, group K) the blood pressure responsiveness to the handgrip test (HG) and CPT were evaluated. Ambulatory systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure were higher in S then K (respectively: 136 +/- 11/81 +/- 10 mm Hg vs 126 +/- 4/76 +/- 6 mm Hg, p < 0.05). The elevation of blood pressure after HG (30% of maximal voluntary contraction for 3 min.) was higher in K than S (respectively: delta SBP = 37 +/- 20 vs 21 +/- 17 mm Hg i delta DBP = 27 +/- 20 vs 7 +/- 12 mm Hg, p < 0.05). Similarly, after CPT (by immersing the left hand and forearm in ice-cold water for 2 min.) the elevation of blood pressure was higher in K than S (respectively: delta SBP = 22 +/- 11 vs 12 +/- 12 mm Hg i delta DBP = 17 +/- 12 vs 9 +/- 9 mm Hg, p < 0.05). These results do not confirm an exaggerated blood pressure responsiveness to the HG test or CPT in young males with positive family history of EH, irrespectively to the diagnosis of normotension or borderline hypertension.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)