This decrease raises the possibility that

abnormalities in BMP4 CDK phosphorylation signaling may have a role in the development of congenital UPJO. It could explain why an association between UPJO and the polymorphisms in the BMP4 gene was observed. Data show that the BMP4 gene is associated MKD and UPJO, but not with VUR in this sample of Brazilian patients. This gene might have an essential role in nephrogenesis. Therefore, further studies are necessary in order to identify the molecular pathways of BMP4 in CAKUT, and also to confirm these associations in other populations with different endophenotypes of urinary tract malformations. This study was partially supported by CNPq (Brazilian National Research Council, Grant 401949/2010-9), FAPEMIG (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais, Grant PPM-00152-09), and the INCT-MM Grant (FAPEMIG: CBB-APQ-00075-09 / CNPq 573646/2008-2). ISF and TRH were the recipients of CNPq fellowships. Dr. AC Simões e Silva, Dr De Marco LA, Dr. EA Oliveira

and Dr DM Miranda received a research productivity grant from CNPq. The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The authors would like to thank the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG), the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), and the Instituto Nacional de Ciência

e Tecnologia de Medicina Molecular (INCT MM). “
“Systemic this website arterial hypertension (SAH) is considered a public health problem both in Brazil and worldwide. The early diagnosis and treatment of this disease are essential for reducing associated cardiovascular risks. Until recently, SAH was considered nonexistent in the pediatric age range. Early studies of normal range blood pressure (BP) in children started in the late 1970s,1 and since then, several reviews have been performed.2, 3 and 4 The currently used references were developed by The National High Blood Pressure Education Program of the United States in to 2004, establishing the 50th, 90th, 95th, and 99th percentiles, adjusted according to gender, age, and height percentiles, and defining that values of systolic BP (SBP) and/or diastolic BP (DBP) are compatible with SAH when ≥ 95th percentile.4 It is estimated that over half of cases of SAH in children aged ≥ 7 years are of the essential type, and there is evidence that SAH in adults may have originated in childhood, thus contributing to the occurrence of early complications and adverse events in young adults.5 and 6 Additionally, complications such as left ventricular hypertrophy, hypertensive encephalopathy, and cerebrovascular accidents consequent to SAH have been reported even in the pediatric age range.