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Recording of blood pressure does not form part of the routine examination in the neonatal
period. This is mainly due to the difficulties encountered in measuring blood pressure with the
usual apparatus. However, it is important to record blood pressure in infants with suspected coarctation of the
aorta, congenital anomalies of the kidney, metabolic disturbance, such as hypoglycemia, and also
those born of toxemic and diabetic mothers, etc. In an attempt to estimate blood pressure values and the relationship between blood pressure and weight, gestation, and height in Korean newborn within 24 hours of life, blood pressure was taken on 107 full-term (male 56, female 51) and 21 premature babis (male 11, female 10) from July 1 to November 30, 1970, at Severance Hospital.
In all cases systolic blood pressure was recorded both by the xylol pulse indicator and the flush
method, but diastolic blood pressure could not be obtained by either method.
The results of this observation were as follows:
1. Measurement of systolic blood pressure by xylol pulse indicator:
(1) Range of systolic blood pressure was varied from 62 to 95 mmHg in the full-term, and from
45 to 78 mmHg in the premature.
(2) Mean systolic blood pressure showed 75.5±0.7 mmHg in the full-term and 61.2±1.9 mmHg
in the premature.
Compared with measurements in the full-term baby, systolic blood pressure in the premature baby
was markedly lower. However, both showed a rise as their weight increased.
(3) Statistically, systolic blood pressure did not vary according to sex.
(4) Systolic blood pressure indicated a positive correlation with birth weight, gestational period and height.
2. Comparison of systolic blood pressure by the xylol pulse indicator and the flush method:
Systolic blood pressure by the xylol pulse indicator method was found to be higher than by the
Flush method in 114 of the total cases (88.5%).
The difference of systolic blood pressure value between the two methods was less than 10 mmHg
in the majority of the total cases (79%).
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