Acute Hypertension: Hypertensive Urgency and Hypertensive Emergency

摘要

Acute hypertension-blood pressure greater than 180/120 mm Hg—can be classified as either hypertensive urgency or hypertensive emergency. Hypertensive urgency has no associated target organ damage, whereas hypertensive emergency can feature neurologic, aortic, cardiac, renal, hematoiogic, and/or pregnancy-reiated damage. Little evidence-based research exists about treatment. Intravenous antihypertensive pharmacotherapy is indicated only for hypertensive emergency, with the use of specific agents tailored to the type of organ damage. Several US and European guidelines provide recommendations for the diagnosis and management of hypertensive urgency and hypertensive emergency. This review summarizes what is known about managing hypertensive urgency and emergency, with an emphasis on guideline-directed therapy.