Evaluation of the Safety, Efficacy and Pharmacokinetics of MICARDIS® (Telmisartan) in Children and Adolescents With Hypertension

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Male or female children and adolescents 6 to \<18 years of age at time of informed consent/assent 2. Ability to provide written informed consent in accordance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and local Institutional Review Boards (IRBs), and/or patient assent, when appropriate 3. Ability to stop any current antihypertensive therapy without unacceptable risk to the patient (Investigator's discretion) 4. Weight ≥20 kg and ≤120 kg 5. Hypertensive patients: in-clinic seated SBP ≥ 95th percentile based on age, height, and gender as defined in The Fourth Report on the Diagnosis, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents 6. Ability to swallow whole tablets Exclusion Criteria: 1. Hypertension accompanied by symptoms or signs of central nervous system injury, including stroke, seizures, or encephalopathy, within 6 months prior to enrollment in the study 2. Children whose in-clinic seated BP measurements are 20 mmHg SBP or 10 mmHg DBP above the 95th percentile based on The Fourth Report on the Diagnosis, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents 3. Bilateral renal artery stenosis, unilateral renal artery stenosis in a solitary kidney, or uncorrected coarctation of the aorta 4. Congestive heart failure, valvular disease, or clinically significant cardiac rhythm disturbances 5. Bone marrow transplantation 6. Solid organ transplantation 7. Stroke 8. Chronic Kidney Disease with Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) to \< 40 ml/min/1.73m2 by the Schwartz formula: Estimated GFR = (k x Height \[cm\]/ Serum Creatinine (mg/dL). k = 0.55 for all females and boys \<13 years old; k = 0.7 in adolescent males ≥13 years old) 9. Clinically significant hepatic disease or abnormal liver function tests: 1. Serum Glutamate-Oxaloacetate-Transaminase (Aspartate Aminotransferase) (SGOT), Serum Glutamate-Pyruvate-Transaminase (Alanine Aminotransferase) (SGPT), or Gamma-Glutamyl-Transferase (GGT) more than 2x upper limit of normal 2. Total or direct bilirubin more than 1.5x upper limit of normal 10. Clinically significant gastrointestinal disease that may affect drug absorption or excretion (including gastroesophageal reflux, malabsorption, biliary disease, pancreatic disease) 11. Hyponatremia (serum sodium ≤130 mEq/L), hyperkalemia (Serum potassium ≥ 5.5 mEq/L), or other clinically significant electrolyte disorders 12. Significant hypoalbuminemia (serum albumin ≤2.5 g/dL) 13. Clinically significant neurological, psychiatric, pulmonary, hematological, or other condition that, in the opinion of the Investigator, will interfere with the safe and successful completion of the study 14. Hypersensitivity to angiotensin II receptor antagonists 15. Females who are of childbearing potential who: 1. are pregnant/have a positive urine pregnancy test (UPT) prior to randomization (Visit 2), or 2. are nursing, or lactating, or 3. would not confirm abstinence (patients must be abstinent throughout the duration of the trial), or 4. are not currently practicing one of the acceptable methods of birth control. Acceptable methods of birth control are limited to: Intra-Uterine Device (IUD), oral, implantable or injectable contraceptives and estrogen patch. 16. Concomitant therapy with any of the following agents: * Any angiotensin II receptor antagonist within four (4) weeks prior to randomization into the study * Any medication that could affect BP * Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors within four (4) weeks prior to randomization into the study * Intravenous pulse steroid therapy within one month, daily treatment with oral corticosteroids ≥1 mg/kg/day) * Anticonvulsant medications * Bile acid binding agents * Any drug that may interfere with absorption of the study medication (e.g.antacids) * Drugs that may affect gastrointestinal motility (e.g. metoclopramide) * Cytotoxic agents within 12 months prior to enrollment into the study 17. Other investigational drugs or treatments within 30 days prior to enrollment 18. Patients who require two or more anti-hypertensive medications 19. Hereditary fructose intolerance 20. Patients who have previously experienced symptoms characteristic of angioedema during treatment with ACE inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor antagonists