Membrane abnormalities in essential hypertensives (EH) are well known. The respiratory burst enzyme, NADPH oxidase is located in the cell membrane of the neutrophil (PMNLs) and its activity is important in generation of oxygen derived free radical (OFR). Recently OFR have been implicated in vascular changes in variety of conditions. An attempt was made to delineate the status of OFR and antioxidants in EH. Ten, age and sex-matched, healthy controls (GpI) and 26 untreated EH (Gp IIA mild-8, Gp IIB Moderate-8, Gp IIC Severe-10) were studied. After clinical examination and basic laboratory evaluation of subjects, neutrophils isolated from their blood were studied. Chemiluminescence (CL) emitted by PMNLs after stimulation was measured (counts/min) in a luminometer and was taken as measure of OFR production and thereby of NADPH oxidase activity. The levels of antioxidants, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced glutathione (GSH), were also estimated. Chemiluminescence was increased significantly (p less than 0.01) in Gp IIC (243.04 +/- 24.9 x 10(3) counts per minute) as compared to Gp IIA (2.80 +/- 1.87), Gp IIB (34.54 +/- 30.24) and Gp I (0.52 +/- 0.15) and SOD was reduced significantly (p less than 0.05) in all EH (Gp IIA 3.9 +/- 0.3 units per mg protein, Gp IIB 3.5 +/- 0.3 and Gp IIC 3.12 +/- 0.3) as compared to controls (4.1 +/- 0.2). Similarly GSH was reduced (p less than 0.05) in EH (Gp IIA 11.2 +/- 1.7 mg per gm protein, Gp IIB 8.5 +/- 1.1 and Gp IIC 6.6 +/- 0.3) as compared to Gp I (13.5 +/- 2.5).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Blood pressure was determined among 2,453 schoolchildren aged between 7 and 16 years in the northwest Indian town of Chandigarh to establish the norms. The percentiles were calculated for each age group in both sexes. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure had a positive correlation with age, weight, height, and body surface area (r = 0.112-0.178, p less than 0.01). There was no difference in the systolic and diastolic pressures of boys compared with girls of corresponding age. The upper limits of normal (90th percentile) systolic/diastolic pressure were 113/74, 119/76, and 126/79 in children aged 7-9 years, children aged 10-12 years, and adolescents aged 13-16 years, respectively. The lower limits of hypertension (95th percentile) for systolic/diastolic pressure were 119/80, 124/81, and 132/82 in each of these groups, respectively. The 99th percentile values indicative of severe hypertension for systolic/diastolic pressure in these groups were 128/88, 135/88, and 149/89, respectively. The 90th percentile of height and weight shown in the percentile table should be taken into consideration whenever blood pressure exceeds the 90th percentile for age and sex while planning the management of an individual.

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Takayasu arteritis is the commonest cause of renovascular hypertension in India. The clinical and radiological features, complications and course of 83 patients (51 females, 32 males) seen during the period from 1972-1990 are described in this study. The age of the patients ranged from 5 to 53 years with the mean +/- SD of 26.9 +/- 9.7. Hypertension (n = 50) and the related symptom of headache (n = 40), dyspnea (n = 24), and giddiness (n = 20) were common at presentation. Twelve patients were in congestive cardiac failure. The symptoms of activity with fever and arthralgia were present in only 16% contrary to reports from Japan and Mexico. Abnormal arterial pulses and bruit over abdominal (37%) or extra abdominal great arteries (25%) were useful clinical clues to suspect Takayasu arteritis. Rapid sequence intravenous urography was a sensitive screening procedure and predicted correctly the presence of renovascular disease in 80% of the patients. The diagnosis was confirmed on aortography in 72. In the rest, the clinical features and autopsy findings confirmed the same. The four patterns of the disease based on the anatomical extent of involvement were recognised. These were: type I (n = 8) with involvement of aortic arch and its branches, type II (n = 25) descending thoracic and abdominal aorta type III (n = 46) combination of I and II and type IV (n = 4) pulmonary artery in addition to any of the above.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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