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Hypertensive emergencies

Last reviewed: 28 Oct 2023
Last updated: 13 Apr 2023

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • blood pressure (BP) >180/120 mmHg
More key diagnostic factors

Other diagnostic factors

  • neurologic symptoms
  • cardiac symptoms
  • abnormal cardiopulmonary exam
  • oliguria or polyuria
  • abnormal fundoscopic exam
  • abnormal neurologic exam
Other diagnostic factors

Risk factors

  • inadequately treated hypertension
  • chronic kidney disease
  • renal artery stenosis
  • renal transplant
  • endocrine disorders with known hypertensive effects
  • pregnancy
  • older age
  • black ethnicity
  • male sex
  • use of sympathomimetic drugs
  • pharmacotherapy with known hypertensive effect
  • obstructive sleep apnea
  • vasculitis and connective tissue diseases
More risk factors

Diagnostic investigations

1st investigations to order

  • blood chemistry
  • CBC with smear
  • urinalysis with microscopy
  • ECG
  • chest x-ray
More 1st investigations to order

Investigations to consider

  • thyroid function tests
  • cardiac enzymes
  • brain natriuretic peptide (BNP)
  • urine toxicology screen
  • thoracic CT scan with contrast
  • transesophageal echocardiography
  • renal ultrasound with Doppler
  • head CT without contrast
  • head MRI
  • plasma renin activity and aldosterone level
  • spot urine or plasma metanephrine
  • 24-hour urine free cortisol
  • sleep study
More investigations to consider

Treatment algorithm

ACUTE

accelerated (malignant) hypertension or hypertensive encephalopathy or intracranial hemorrhage

acute ischemic stroke

myocardial ischemia/infarction

left ventricular failure and/or pulmonary edema

aortic dissection

acute kidney injury

hyperadrenergic state

severe hypertension in pregnancy (preeclampsia and eclampsia)

Contributors

Authors

M. Lee Sanders, PhD, MD

Clinical Associate Professor

Division of Nephrology

University of Iowa

Iowa City

IA

Disclosures

MLS is an author of a reference cited in this topic.

Manish Suneja, MD, FASN, FACP

Clinical Professor

Division of Nephrology

University of Iowa

Iowa City

IA

Disclosures

MS is an author of a reference cited in this topic.

Acknowledgements

Dr M. Lee Sanders and Dr Manish Suneja would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Hector Ventura and Dr Madhavi T. Reddy, previous contributors to this topic.

Disclosures

HV declares that he has no competing interests. MTR is employed by Merck and owns stocks in Merck, and Johnson & Johnson.

Peer reviewers

Aparna Sundaram, DO, MBA, MPH

Physician Consultant

Preventive Medicine

Private Practice

Atlanta

GA

Disclosures

AS declares that she has no competing interests.

Ethan Cumbler, MD

Assistant Professor

Department of Internal Medicine

University of Colorado Health Sciences Center

Denver

CO

Disclosures

EC declares that he has no competing interests.

Michael Schachter, MB, BSc, FRCP

Department of Clinical Pharmacology

St Mary’s Hospital

Imperial College

London

UK

Disclosures

MS declares that he has no competing interests.

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