This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows:

Primary Objectives

To determine dose related effects of different classes of antihypertensive medications as compared to placebo on systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure in children with essential/primary hypertension.

The different classes of antihypertensive medications include diuretics, calcium channel blockers, beta‐blockers, alfa‐blockers, alfa and beta‐blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB), vasodilators etc.

Secondary Objectives

To determine effects of monotherapy with one class of antihypertensive medications as compared to monotherapy with drugs from other antihypertensive class on systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure in children with essential/primary hypertension.

To determine effects of combination therapy of antihypertensive medications as compared to placebo or monotherapy of the drugs included in the combination therapy on systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure in children with essential/primary hypertension.

To determine and compare effects of drugs within the same antihypertensive drug class on systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure in children with essential/primary hypertension.

To determine effects of different classes of antihypertensive medications on target end organ disease such as left ventricular hypertrophy, cardiac function, nephropathy and retinopathy.

To determine withdrawals due to adverse events.

To determine adverse biochemical effects of antihypertensive drug therapy on serum potassium, uric acid, creatinine, glucose and lipid profile.

To determine the adherence of different antihypertensive medications among children with primary hypertension by pill count, self report or any other method used in a trial.