Abstract: Objective To explore target organ damage in the youth with pre-hypertension. Methods 77 consecutive youth visiting our institution form 2008 to 2010 were divided into pre-hypertension group (n=32) and control group (n=45). The relevance of left ventricular mass index (LVMI), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVDd), interventricular septum thickness (IVST), left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LVPWT), carotid plaque intima-media thickness (IMT) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were compared. Results The blood pressure of pre-hypertension group was higher than that of control group, and the pre-hypertension group followed higher family hypertension history (P<0.05). There was no difference in LVDd, IVST, LVPWT, carotid plaque IMT and GFR between 2 groups (P>0.05). Compared with the control group, LVMI increased (P<0.05) and the E/A ratio decreased (P<0.05). Conclusion Target organ damage in pre-hypertension youth is salient compared with changes in renal function and damage of arteriosclerosis, and heart damage is more often occurred in the obese youth with pre-hypertension.

Key words: youth, pre-hypertension, target organ damage