Clinical relevance of ambulatory blood pressure measurements.

The development of vascular complications in patients with hypertension is related to the level of blood pressure. A more representative measure of blood pressure is obtained by repeatedly measuring pressure after a period of rest or activity, and on several occasions. Really satisfactory values are, however, only obtained by multiple measurements throughout the day during a patient's normal activities. This is achieved with the Remler equipment (Model M-100-1 and M 2000). The working of the apparatus is described and its accuracy investigated. The findings of 675 untreated patients with essential hypertension are reviewed, and a few individual cases described which have been followed up to 10 years.