Highlights for the Management of a Child with Hypertension

Table 3

Drug options for initial therapy for hypertension in children.

Class of drugs	Patients' characteristics
Diuretics	Volume-overload, low plasma renin activity, black race, oral contraceptive therapy, and congestive heart failure.
Angiotensin converting inhibitors/angiotensin; receptor blockers	High plasma renin activity, unilateral renovascular hypertension, renal insufficiency, glomerular proteinuria, congestive heart failure, diabetes mellitus, gout, and hyperlipidemia.
Calcium channel blockers	Emergency hypertension, black race, diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive lung disease, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, gout, hyperlipidemia, and peripheral vascular disease.
Beta-adrenergic antagonists	Contracted intravascular volume, high plasma renin activity, attention deficit disorder, hyperdynamic circulation, anxiety, migraine, steroid intake, hyperthyroidism, and neuroadrenergic tumors.