High blood pressure (BP) is becoming a growing health issue even in children and adolescents. Moreover, BP elevation in youth frequently translates into children and adult hypertension contributing to the development of cardiovascular disease. The detection of early markers of vascular damage, potentially leading to overt cardiovascular disease, is important for clinical decisions about if and how to treat hypertension and can be useful in monitoring the effectiveness of the treatment. The purpose of this review is to summarize the actual knowledge about subclinical organ damage (SOD) in hypertensive children and adolescents and its association with cardiovascular disease in children and young adults. Our focus is especially put on left ventricular mass, pulse wave velocity, carotid intima-media thickness and microalbuminuria. We also want to address the scientific evidence about possible regression of SOD and cardiovascular risk with the use of behavioural and specific anti-hypertensive therapy. Indications from current guidelines are critically discussed.

: Kidney damage is a common consequence of arterial hypertension, but is also a cause of atherogenesis. Dysfunction and/or harm of the endothelium in glomeruli and tubular interstitium damage the function of these structures and translates into dynamic changes of filtration fraction, with progressive reduction in glomerular filtration rate, expansion of extracellular fluid volume, abnormal ion balance, and hypoxia, ultimately leading to chronic kidney disease. Considering the key role played by endothelial dysfunction in chronic kidney disease, the Working Group on Endothelin and Endothelial Factors of the European Society of Hypertension and the Japanese Society of Hypertension have critically reviewed available knowledge on the mechanisms underlying endothelial cell injury. This resulted into two articles: in the first, we herein examine the mechanisms by which endothelial factors induce vascular remodeling and the role of different players, including endothelin-1, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and their interactions, and of oxidative stress; in the second, we discuss the role of endothelial dysfunction in the major disease conditions that affect the kidney.

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