Ambulatory blood pressure recording in children and adolescents with a semi-automatic recording device.

The blood pressures of 169 hospitalized children and adolescents were determined by a semi-automatic recording device (Sysditon). Several technical modifications of the paediatric cuffs were required before the device yielded satisfactory results. The systolic pressures then agreed very well with conventional sphygmomanometry, whereas the diastolic pressures were underestimated by 2.6 to 5.9 mm Hg and showed considerable scattering. In the second part of the study, 28 children and adolescents performed home recordings during one week. These measurements were compared with the hospital recordings obtained before and after the home recordings. The mean of all systolic self measurements was lower by 3.4 mm Hg than the initial hospital recordings, whilst the final hospital recordings were almost identical. In the majority of children, the lowest home recordings were noted in the morning and at noon, and the highest values in the afternoon and evening. Self measurement with a semi-automatic device is a simple and inexpensive method to evaluate elevated blood pressure and to control anti-hypertensive therapy of children and adolescents. However, technical modifications of the cuffs are necessary, and the devices need careful evaluation before being used in children.