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Haemodynamic studies were undertaken at rest and during supine exercise in 43 juvenile hypertensives. A hyperkinetic circulation was found in 51% of juvenile hypertensives at rest in the supine position. An elevated cardiac output was associated with a higher oxygen consumption in only 24% of the juvenile hypertensives. Systolic hypertension was present during the study in half the juvenile hypertensives; they did not have a significantly higher percentage with an elevated cardiac output. Juvenile hypertensives did not show an excessive pressure response to an exercise test. Thus, exercise is not a suitable way of inducing manifest hypertension in juvenile hypertensives with a normal pressure at the time of testing. Juvenile hypertensives have a relatively elevated peripheral resistance at rest. Peripheral resistance during exercise at cardiac output values more than 15 l/min normalizes. Since high flow rates have been observed to induce maximum vasodilatation in juvenile hypertension, we can assume that their peripheral vascular bed has as yet not developed anatomical structural changes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]