As compared with common measurement of causal blood pressure (BP) in the doctor’s office, ambulatory monitoring of the BP (ABPM) provides information on BP readings in the patient’s usual environment throughout 24 hours. Trials in adult patients indicate that this information can correlate better with prognostic indicators of cardiovascular morbidity or injury of target organs. White coat hypertension (WCH) is a condition where a patient with elevated BP readings in the office has normal ambulatory BP readings. Contrary to fixed hypertension, the prognosis of WCH is comparable with normotension. WCH is found relatively frequently also in child patients. For this age group however so far the prognostic definition of this clinical entity is lacking. Investigations of adults indicate that impaired dipping of BP during the night is associated with adverse prognostic indicators. In the child population this phenomenon is found relatively frequently in patients with secondary hypertension. The application of ABPM as a supplementary examination of hypertensive patients in child and adolescent age can reduce unnecessary examination and treatment in cases of diagnosed WCH. In patients with diseases which can lead to the development of secondary hypertension ABMP makes a more sensitive diagnosis of hypertension possible (in particular during the night) and also more accurate pharmacological treatment.

        Key words: blood pressure, ambulatory monitoring of blood pressure, child age