Hypertensive crisis. Clinical and therapeutic study of 130 cases (author's transl)

• Published in: Medicina clínica Vol. 76; no. 10; p. 427
• Main Authors: Jarillo, M D, Alcázar, J M, Pérez Díaz, V, Gutiérrez Millet, V, Morales, J M, Barrientos, A, Rodicio, J L, Ruilope, L M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Spain 10.05.1981
• Subjects: Antihypertensive Agents - administration & dosage; Antihypertensive Agents - adverse effects; Antihypertensive Agents - therapeutic use; Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology; Drug Therapy, Combination; Emergencies; Humans; Hypertension - complications; Hypertension - drug therapy; Hypertension - pathology; Hypertension - physiopathology; Retinal Diseases - etiology
• ISSN: 0025-7753

The clinical aspects and response to therapy of 130 hypertensive emergencies are reviewed in this report. According to the main features of the clinical picture, the patients were divided into neurologic, cardiac or mixed emergencies. The patients were evaluated with clinical examination, fundoscopy, routine biochemistry, ECG, and chest radiograms. According to the response of the blood pressure to the administration of hypotensive drugs, the patients were divided into two groups: group I, with good response to a single drug associated to frusemide, and group II, with good response to two or more drugs associated to frusemide. Neurologic emergencies appeared in 55 patients (42% of total), and cardiac emergencies in 45 (34%), the initial blood pressure beeing higher in the first group (p less than 0.005). The fundus showed hypertensive retinopathy degrees III-IV in 55% of the patients. Patients in group I had less elevation of the initial blood pressure, showed a better response to therapy, and had only mild side effects from the administered drugs. Group II had a mortality of 11% and, as expected, showed more complications due to side effects. The frequency of appearance of toxic side effects from the drugs given is reviewed, and a therapeutic schedule is proposed.