High Blood Pressure in Infants

What is high blood pressure?

High blood pressure is also called hypertension. Blood pressure measures the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as it flows through. High blood pressure means the amount of force is higher than normal. Over time, high blood pressure can damage the arteries.

High blood pressure in infants can have many causes. These often include problems with the heart or kidneys that the baby is born with.

What are the signs and symptoms of high blood pressure in infants?

High blood pressure often does not cause any symptoms until it is very high. Babies with high blood pressure may have symptoms of the disease or condition that is causing the high blood pressure. These symptoms can include:

• A bluish tint to the skin, fingernails or lips
• Rapid breathing
• Pale skin
• Not growing or gaining weight

Babies who have very high blood pressure may also have:

• Seizures
• Trouble breathing
• Irritability
• Vomiting

What causes high blood pressure in infants?

High blood pressure in infants can have many causes. They include:

• Coarctation of the aorta: a narrowing of the aorta, the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the body
• Patent ductus arteriosus: an opening between the aorta and pulmonary artery that normally closes after birth
• Bronchopulmonary dysplasia: a lung condition that can develop in babies who are born early or are put on a breathing machine after birth
• Kidney disease or renal artery stenosis, a narrowing of the blood main blood vessel in the kidney
• Thyroid problems
• Some types of tumors
• Some medicines

How is high blood pressure in infants treated?

Treatment will depend on the cause of your infant’s high blood pressure. Treatment options may include:

• Medicines to treat a patent ductus arteriosus or bronchopulmonary dysplasia
• Surgery to correct coarctation of the aorta
• Dialysis to treat kidney failure
• Kidney transplant

Nationally ranked in pediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery, the Arkansas Children's Heart Institute offers world-class expertise and state-of-the-art technology to infants, children, adolescents and young adults. Your pediatric cardiology team at Arkansas Children’s is experienced in treating high blood pressure in infants and will work with you to determine the best course of treatment for your child.