When viewing this topic in a different language, you may notice some differences in the way the content is structured, but it still reflects the latest evidence-based guidance.

Emergencias hipertensivas

Last reviewed: 11 Sep 2025
Last updated: 20 Nov 2024

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • presión arterial (PA) >180/120 mmHg
  • presencia de factores de riesgo
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • síntomas neurológicos
  • síntomas cardíacos
  • exploración cardiopulmonar anómala
  • exploración abdominal anormal
  • oliguria o poliuria
  • examen de fondo de ojo anómalo
  • examen neurológico anómalo
Full details

Risk factors

  • hipertensión tratada de manera inadecuada
  • enfermedad renal crónica (ERC)
  • estenosis de la arteria renal
  • trasplante renal
  • enfermedades del sistema endocrino con efectos hipertensivos conocidos
  • embarazo
  • edad avanzada
  • etnia negra
  • sexo masculino
  • uso de drogas simpaticomiméticas
  • farmacoterapia con efecto hipertensor conocido
  • apnea obstructiva del sueño
  • vasculitis y enfermedades del tejido conectivo
Full details

Diagnostic tests

1st tests to order

  • bioquímica sanguínea
  • hemograma completo (HC) con frotis
  • análisis de orina con microscopía
  • electrocardiograma (ECG)
  • radiografía de tórax
Full details

Tests to consider

  • pruebas de función tiroidea
  • pruebas de función hepática
  • enzimas cardíacas
  • N-terminal del pro-péptido natriurético tipo B (NT-proBNP) en el líquido pleural
  • perfil de coagulación
  • prueba de embarazo en orina o suero
  • cribado toxicológico de orina
  • exploración por angiografía por tomografía computarizada (ATC)
  • ecocardiografía transtorácica (ETT)
  • ultrasonido Doppler renal
  • tomografía computarizada (TC) sin contraste de cabeza
  • resonancia magnética (IRM) de cabeza
  • actividad de la renina plasmática y nivel de aldosterona
  • metadrenalina (metanefrina) en muestra puntual de orina o plasma
  • cortisol libre urinario de 24 horas
  • estudio del sueño
Full details

Treatment algorithm

ACUTE

hipertensión acelerada (maligna) o encefalopatía hipertensiva o hemorragia intracraneal

accidente cerebrovascular isquémico agudo

isquemia miocárdica/infarto de miocardio

insuficiencia ventricular izquierda o edema pulmonar

disección aórtica

daño renal agudo

estado hiperadrenérgico

hipertensión grave en el embarazo (preeclampsia y 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 receives royalties from McGraw Hill as the editor of DeGowin’s Diagnostic Examination and 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.

Peer reviewer acknowledgements

BMJ Best Practice topics are updated on a rolling basis in line with developments in evidence and guidance. The peer reviewers listed here have reviewed the content at least once during the history of the topic.

Disclosures

Peer reviewer affiliations and disclosures pertain to the time of the review.

References

Our in-house evidence and editorial teams collaborate with international expert contributors and peer reviewers to ensure that we provide access to the most clinically relevant information possible.

Key articles

Whelton PK, Carey RM, Aronow WS, et al. 2017 ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA guideline for the prevention, detection, evaluation, and management of high blood pressure in adults: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2018 May 15;71(19):e127-248.Full text  Abstract

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Practice bulletin no. 222: gestational hypertension and preeclampsia. Jun 2020 [internet publication].Full text  Abstract

Mancia G, Kreutz R, Brunström M, et al. 2023 ESH Guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension the Task Force for the management of arterial hypertension of the European Society of Hypertension: endorsed by the International Society of Hypertension (ISH) and the European Renal Association (ERA). J Hypertens. 2023;41(12):1874-2071.Full text  Abstract

Reference articles

A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available to users with access to all of BMJ Best Practice.
  • Emergencias hipertensivas images
  • Diagnósticos diferenciais

    • Urgencia hipertensiva
    • Hipertensión esencial no controlada
    Mais Diagnósticos diferenciais
  • Diretrizes

    • The management of elevated blood pressure in the acute care setting
    • Hypertension in adults: diagnosis and management
    Mais Diretrizes
  • Folhetos informativos para os pacientes

    Presión arterial alta: preguntas para formularle al médico

    Mais Folhetos informativos para os pacientes
  • Videos

    Demostración animada de venopunción y flebotomía

    Demostración animada de como realizar un electrocardiograma (ECG)

    Mais vídeos
  • padlock-lockedConectar-se ou assinar para acessar todo o BMJ Best Practice

O uso deste conteúdo está sujeito ao nosso aviso legal