Arterial Characteristics in Normotensive Offspring of Parents With or Without a History of Hypertension

Background In this study we compared the arterial characteristics and blood pressure (BP) of normotensive offspring of two normotensive parents (OFF/NT) and normotensive offspring who had at least one hypertensive parent (OFF/HT). Methods A total of 174 OFF/HT (17 to 40 years of age) and 59 OFF/NT (16 to 34 years) were recruited in Cracow, Poland (n = 138) and Pilsen, Czech Republic (n = 95). Peripheral pulse pressure (PPp) was determined from conventional and 24-h ambulatory BP. A SphygmoCor device was used to measure the central (CAIx) and peripheral (PAIx) systolic augmentation indexes, central pulse pressure (PPc), and the aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV). In multivariate analyses family clusters and significant covariates were accounted for. Results The OFF/HT had higher (.14