This book, edited by Dr Loggie (a recognized expert in the field of pediatric and adolescent hypertension), contains 33 chapters, written by distinguished experts in some aspect of hypertension. Chapters discuss general and specific aspects of the etiology, evaluation, natural history, or treatment of hypertension. Despite some weaknesses, it comes close to meeting the editor's stated goal that by covering a wide range of topics the book should be useful not only to those who have a research interest in hypertension in childhood but also to physicians caring for children and adolescents who have high blood pressure.
Many pediatric patients will be found to have hypertension if blood pressures are routinely obtained, proper techniques and equipment are used, and age-, gender-, and size-specific definitions are applied. Unfortunately, neither proper measurement nor interpretation is trivial. Hypertension is a condition, not a disease. It can be the result of a wide range