Systemic hypertension and aortic obstruction in children.

Congenital coarctation of the aorta and acquired idiopathic obstructive aortitis result in systemic hypertension in children. The incidence of the former disease decreases--and that of the latter condition increases--from Europe to India to Thailand. The clinical profile of coarctation of the aorta as seen in India is similar to that described in the Western literature. Patients with idiopathic obstructive aortitis are generally desperately sick because of cardiac failure or neurological complications. Although it appears to be the result of an inflammatory process, the cause of aortitis is not known. Unless the clinical characteristics of the acute illness are defined investigations are not likely to help in establishing the cause of idiopathic obstructive aortitis.