Not only adults, but children too, can develop high blood pressure that when uncontrolled can also lead to serious risks to the children's hearts and brains, not to mention lives.

In children with high blood pressure, medications can help. However, in those with renal artery obstructions (causing a rare but especially dangerous form of hypertension), surgery is the best option, concluded a new study by a University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center team, one of the world's most experienced at treating such children.

Renal artery obstruction in children or pediatric renovascular hypertension is caused by narrowings (or stenoses) in the blood vessels that lead to the kidneys. This particular condition is usually diagnosed only after children don't respond to blood pressure medications, or after experiencing symptoms such as failing to gain weight at a normal pace or having unexplained fatigue, or only after stroke in some kids.

Pediatric renovascular hypertension is the third most common cause of serious hypertension in children.

"...the new study shows that 97 percent of children who have surgery for renovascular hypertension will respond positively, and 70 percent will be cured completely. In the hands of the right team, the researchers say, children can survive the arduous operation and go on to have a normal life."

Findings of this new study have been published in the Journal of Vascular Surgery where the following surgical approach has been described by the U-M team that yielded the high success rates for their patients:

• Because children are still growing, they cannot be treated using the artificial graft devices and stents that are often used in treating adult kidney blood vessels, therefore surgeons often have to use a length of blood vessel taken from elsewhere in the child's body to get around the blockage.


• In some patients, the persistently high blood pressure has damaged one kidney too much to allow it to be saved, and it must be removed.


• Once a child has had surgery to correct their kidney blood flow, they can sometimes go off the blood pressure medications that had been used to try to control their hypertension. But others will still need medicines, or even further surgery.

For more information on pediatric and adult renal hypertension diagnosis and treatment at the U-M Cardiovascular Center, visit vascular.surgery.med.umich.edu/clinical/disease-specific/renal_artery.shtml or call toll-free 1-888-287-1082.

Find more details from the U of M press release.