Pediatric Hypertension Clinic

The rates of hypertension among children and adolescents are on the rise along with obesity. Having hypertension as a child or an adolescent can increase the risk of early development of cardiovascular disease later in life. To address this important problem, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh’s Division of Pediatric Nephrology is offering Pediatric Hypertension Clinic dedicated to evaluation and management of high blood pressures in children and adolescents. We are a multidisciplinary team of pediatric nephrologists, trained to appropriately diagnose and to treat high blood pressure, clinic nurses and renal dietician.

To overcome the difficulty of measuring blood pressure accurately in children and adolescents, we offer 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) to help rule out white coat hypertension, a fairly common condition in children and adolescents. 24 hour ABPM can also be used to accurately assess efficacy of our prescribed interventions. When determined to be appropriate by the Pediatric Nephrologist, a patient may have additional testing such as blood test, urine test, radiology studies and echocardiogram to find the exact cause of hypertension or conditions associated with hypertension.

Our treatment plans include lifestyle modification including dietary plans and physical activity recommendations aimed to lower blood pressure led by our renal dietitian. For patients with abnormal cholesterol levels, we collaborate with Children’s Hospital’s Lipid Clinic. Additionally, we participate in research studies evaluating promising new medicines to treat hypertension in children.