ABSTRACTS: HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE CONTROL 147 A-53 HYPERTENSION IN TEENAGERS S. E. Crutchfield, Prudential, NCHO, 3701 Wayzata Boulevard, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55416; C. E. Crutchfield II. In order to increase awareness about hypertension and its complications, we devel- oped a project in April, 1978, for the students at Minnehaha Academy. It was based upon the theory that a learning experience impacts more when the student is involved with a "hands on" procedure. The project centered around "Blood Pressure Check Day" on which students measured the blood pressures of their classmates. In conjunction with this were class discussions about the definition of high blood pressure and control measures for it. A physician taught a group of students to take the blood pressure measurements, and they then measured the blood pressures of 571 students. Each student was asked to do a brief self evaluation of his own risk factors at the time of his exam. Results of this study were as follows: 8.7% of the students needed to be rechecked because of blood pressures above 135/90, 80% of these were male, 5% were smokers, 36% had immediate relatives with hypertension, and only 4% were previously aware of their condition. We are satisfied that our project met its objectives and suggest it as a model for use in hypertension education. A-54 CONTROL OF SEVERE HYPERTENSION BY INCREMENTAL INFUSION OF LABETALOL A. M . M . Cumming , Medical Research Council Blood Pressure Unit, Western Infirmary, Glasgow, Gll.GNT, Scotland, United Kingdom; J, I. S. Robertson, J. J. Brown, R. Fraser, A. F. Lever, J. J. Morton. We have shown previously that the intravenous injection of labetalol effectively reduces arterial pressure in patients with severe hypertension. In the present study we have examined the use of graded infusions of labetalol at successive hourly increments of 20, 40, 80 and 160 mg per hour in severely hypertensive patients. The drug was effective in all except one of 16 subjects. More consistent and predictable blood pressure reduc- tion was achieved by continuous infusion in this manner than by repeated bolus injec- tiona. Pulse rate and mean plasma concentrations of angiotensin Il and aldosterone were reduced by labetalol. Plasma labetalol concentrations were generally higher at the 60th than at the 36th minute during a constant infusion at a given dose, and declined with an initial mean half-life of 10 minutes when the infusion was stopped. Plasma sodium and potassium concentrations were unchanged. In no case did labetalol induce clinical or electrocardiographic evidence of myocardial ischaemia. There were no serious side effects.

Hypertension in teenagers: S. E. Crutchfield, Prudential, NCHO, 3701 Wayzata Boulevard, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55416; C. E. Crutchfield II

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Page 1: Hypertension in teenagers: S. E. Crutchfield, Prudential, NCHO, 3701 Wayzata Boulevard, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55416; C. E. Crutchfield II

ABSTRACTS: HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE CONTROL 147

A-53 HYPERTENSION IN TEENAGERS

S. E. Crutchfield, Prudential, NCHO, 3701 Wayzata Boulevard, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55416; C. E. Crutchfield II.

In order to increase awareness about hypertension and its complications, we devel- oped a project in April, 1978, for the students at Minnehaha Academy. It was based upon the theory that a learning experience impacts more when the student is involved with a "hands on" procedure. The project centered around "Blood Pressure Check Day" on which students measured the blood pressures of their classmates. In conjunction with this were class discussions about the definition of high blood pressure and control measures for it. A physician taught a group of students to take the blood pressure measurements, and they then measured the blood pressures of 571 students. Each student was asked to do a brief self evaluation of his own risk factors at the time of his exam. Results of this study were as follows: 8.7% of the students needed to be rechecked because of blood pressures above 135/90, 80% of these were male, 5% were smokers, 36% had immediate relatives with hypertension, and only 4% were previously aware of their condition. We are satisfied that our project met its objectives and suggest it as a model for use in hypertension education.

A-54 CONTROL OF SEVERE HYPERTENSION BY INCREMENTAL INFUSION OF LABETALOL

A. M . M . Cumming , Medical Research Council Blood Pressure Unit, Western Infirmary, Glasgow, Gll.GNT, Scotland, United Kingdom; J, I. S. Robertson, J. J. Brown, R. Fraser, A. F. Lever, J. J. Morton.

We have shown previously that the intravenous injection of labetalol effectively reduces arterial pressure in patients with severe hypertension. In the present study we have examined the use of graded infusions of labetalol at successive hourly increments of 20, 40, 80 and 160 mg per hour in severely hypertensive patients. The drug was effective in all except one of 16 subjects. More consistent and predictable blood pressure reduc- tion was achieved by continuous infusion in this manner than by repeated bolus injec- tiona. Pulse rate and mean plasma concentrations of angiotensin Il and aldosterone were reduced by labetalol. Plasma labetalol concentrations were generally higher at the 60th than at the 36th minute during a constant infusion at a given dose, and declined with an initial mean half-life of 10 minutes when the infusion was stopped. Plasma sodium and potassium concentrations were unchanged. In no case did labetalol induce clinical or electrocardiographic evidence of myocardial ischaemia. There were no serious side effects.