Using the flush technique, 3 systolic blood pressure readings were taken in the right arm and right leg of 160 Japanese infants of approximately 9 months of age. Analysis of the data obtained on 103 babies who were quiet or nursing when all determinations were made showed the following:1. A sex difference in systolic blood pressure could not be demonstrated by statistical methods; there was no apparent relationship between blood pressure and height or weight.2. No difference could be demonstrated between arm and leg pressures by statistical methods.3. The difference in systolic pressures among infants in this study was highly significant. This variability among patients was greater than the variability among the 3 observations on an extremity of an individual patient.4. The method may be considered a satisfactory clinic or office procedure if its limitations are recognized. One blood pressure reading on a patient by this method is of little value. A minimum of 3 readings should be obtained and averaged. Five readings are recommended for routine blood pressure determinations. For more exacting studies, 8 readings might be taken and averaged.
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