Hypertension in the newborn baby
- Correspondence to:
Dr Watkinson, Neonatal Unit, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham B9 5SS, UK;
WatkinM{at}heartsol.wmids.nhs.uk
- Accepted 27 November 2001
Abstract
Hypertension is rare in the newborn infant. It has a cumbersome definition and diagnosis, and screening is not justified using present definitions and technology. Thresholds for starting antihypertensive treatment in the first month of life are not clear, and the treatment is difficult, with idiosyncratic responses to drugs in neonates with varying renal and hepatic function.
