Malignant Hypertension Symptoms Treatment

Malignant hypertension and accelerated high blood pressure are two emergency that must be treated immediately.

 

Malignant Hypertension

Both conditions have the same outcome and therapy. However Malignant hypertension is a complication of high blood pressure characterized by very elevated high blood pressure, and organ damage in the eyes,
brain, lungs and / or kidneys. It differs from other complications of hypertension in that it is accompanied by papilledema. (Edema of the optical disc of the eye) systolic and diastolic pressure are usually greater than 240 and 120, respectively. While Accelerated high blood pressure is the term with high blood pressure, target organ damage, on fundoscopy we have flame shaped hemorrhages, or soft exudates, but without papilledema.

There are two things. Hypertensive urgency and hypertensive emergency. In hypertensive urgency we do not see any target organ damage while in emergency we see target organ damage with high systolic blood pressure of> 220. Now, depending on the organ damage you will decide whether you have hypertensive emergency or urgency. E 'essential to break down the high blood pressure in case of hypertensive emergency immediately, while in urgency, lower blood pressure very rapidly is not required.

Pathogenesis of malignant hypertension is fibrinoid necrosis of arterioles and small arteries. The red blood cells are damaged as they flow through vessels obstructed by deposits of fibrin, resulting in microangiopathic hemolytic anemia. Another pathologic process is the dilatation of cerebral arteries resulting in increased blood flow to the brain which leads to clinical manifestations of hypertensive encephalopathy. Common age is above 40 years and is more common in men, rather than women. The blacks are at higher risk of developing hypertensive emergencies than the general population.

Target organs are mainly Kidney, central nervous system and heart. Thus symptoms of malignant hypertension are oligurea, headache, vomiting, nausea, chest pain, breathlessness, paralysis, blurred vision. Most commonly heart and CNS are involved in malignant hypertension. The pathogenesis is not fully understood. Up to 1% of patients with essential hypertension develop malignant hypertension, and the reason some patients develop malignant hypertension, while others do not is unknown. Other causes include any form of secondary hypertension; the use of cocaine, MAOIs, or oral contraceptives; , Beta-blockers, or alpha-stimulants. Renal artery stenosis, withdrawal of alcohol, pheochromocytoma {most pheochromocytomas can be localized using CT scan of the adrenals}, aortic coarctation, complications of pregnancy and hyperaldosteronism are secondary causes of hypertension. The main surveys to access target organ damage are complete renal profile, BSR, Chest Xray, ECG, Echocardiography, CBC, Thyroid function tests.

Management:

Patient is in intensive care. An intravenous line is taken for fluids and medications. The initial goal of therapy is to reduce blood pressure by an average of about 25% over the first 24-48 hours. However Hypertensive urgencies do not require admission to a hospital. The goal of therapy is to reduce blood pressure within 24 hours, which can be achieved by a surgery. Initially, patients treated for malignant hypertension are instructed to fast until stable. Once stable, all patients with malignant hypertension should take low salt diet, and should focus on weight lowering diet. Activity is limited to bed rest until the patient is stable. Patients should be able to resume normal activity as outpatients once their blood pressure is controlled.

Hospitalization is essential until the severe high blood pressure is under control. Medications delivered through an IV line, such as nitroglycerin, nitroprusside, or others, may reduce blood pressure. An alternative for patients with renal insufficiency is IV fenoldopam. Beta-blockers can be accomplished intravenously with esmolol or metoprolol. Labetalol is another common alternative, providing easy transition from IV to oral (PO) dosing. Also available parenterally are enalapril, diltiazem, verapamil, Hydralazine is reserved for use in pregnant patients as it also increases uterine profusion, while phentolamine is the drug of choice for a pheochromocytoma crisis. After the severe high blood pressure is under control, regular anti-hypertensive medications taken by mouth can control your blood pressure. The drug may need to be adjusted from time to time.

Remember, it is very necessary to control malignant hypertension, otherwise it can lead to life-threatening conditions such as heart failure, heart attack, kidney failure and even blindness.