A genetic linkage study of young-onset hypertension was performed on data from 59 nucleus families of Han Chinese residing in Taiwan. Thirty seven microsatellite markers near 18 hypertension candidate genes were genotyped. In a nonparametric identity-by-descent sibpair analysis, a positive linkage signal (defined as P<0.05) was found for four microsatellite markers, viz., D1S1612 (P=0.0162), D1S547 (P=0.0263), D8S 1145 (P= 0.0284), and D17S2193 (P=0.0256), which were located near genes for atrial natriuretic peptide (NPPA)/glucose transporter 5 (SLC2A5), angiotensinogen (AGT), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), and angiotensin-conveting enzyme (DCP1), respectively. Marker D5S1480 located near beta-2-adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) had a borderline P value (P=0.0785) for the positive signal. Comprehensive genotyping with further markers in these regions is underway to confirm whether these genes are linked to young-onset hypertension.