Malignant Hypertension Causes Symptoms And Treatment

Malignant Hypertension and accelerated high blood pressure is t-wo emergency conditions -which should be treated promptly. Both conditions have same outcome and therapy. Ho-wever Malignant hypertension is a complication of high blood pressure characterized by very elevated high blood pressure, and organ damage in the eyess, brain, lung and/or kidneys. It differs from other complications of hypertension in that it is accompanied by papilledema. (Edema of optic disc of eyes) Systolic and diastolic blood pressures is usually greater than 240 and 120, respectively. -while Accelerated high blood pressure is condition -with high blood pressure, target organ damage, on fundoscopy -we have flame shaped hemorrhages, or soft exudates, but -without papilledema.

There is t-wo things. Hypertensive Urgency and Hypertensive emergency. In hypertensive urgency -we dont see any target organ damage -while in emergency -we see target organ damage along -with high blood pressure greater than systolic >220. No-w depending upon target organ damage you -will decide -whether you have hypertensive emergency or urgency. It is essential to bring do-wn high blood pressure in hypertensive emergency immediately, -while in urgency, bring do-wn blood pressure very rapidly is not required.

Pathogenesis of malignant hypertension is fibrinoid necrosis of arterioles and small arteries. Red blood cells is damaged as they flo-w through vessels obstructed by fibrin deposition, resulting in microangiopathic hemolytic anemia. Another pathologic process is the dilatation of cerebral arteries resulting in increased blood flo-w to brain -which leads to clinical manifestations of hypertensive encephalopathy. Common age is above 40 years and it is more frequent in man rather than -women. Black people is at higher risk of developing hypertensive emergencies than the general population.

Target organs is mainly Kidney, CNS and Heart. So symptoms of Malignant hypertension is oligurea, Headache, vomiting, nausea, chest pain, breathlessness, paralysis, blurred vision. Most commonly heart and CNS is 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 unkno-wn. other causes include any form of secondary hypertension; use of cocaine, MAoIs, or oral contraceptives; , betablockers, or alphastimulants. Renal artery stenosis, -withdra-wal of alcohol, pheochromocytoma {most pheochromocytomas can be localized using CT scan of the adrenals}, aortic coarctation, complications of pregnancy and hyperaldosteronism is secondary causes of hypertension. Main Investigations to access target organ damage is complete renal profile, BSR, Chest Xray, ECG, Echocardiography, CBC, Thyroid function tests.

Management:
Patient is admitted in Intensive Cis Unit. An intravenous line is taken for fluids and medications. The initial goal of therapy is to reduce the mean arterial pressure by approximately 25% over the first 2448 hours. Ho-wever Hypertensive urgencies do not mandate admission to a hospital. The goal of therapy is to reduce blood pressure -within 24 hours, -which can be achieved as an outpatient department. Initially, patients treated for malignant hypertension is instructed to fast untill stable. once stable, all patients -with malignant hypertension should take lo-w salt diet, and should focus on -weight lo-wering 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 has been 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 your blood pressure. An alternative for patients -with renal insufficiency is IV fenoldopam. Betablockade can be accomplished intravenously -with esmolol or metoprolol. Labetalol is another common alternative, providing easy transition from IV to oral (Po) dosing. Also available pisnterally is 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 brought under control, regular antihypertensive medications taken by mouth can control your blood pressure. The medication may need to be adjusted occasionally.

Remember, It is very necessary to control malignant hypertension, other-wise it can lead to life threatening conditions like Heart Failure, Infarction, Kidney failure and even blindness.
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