ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION Hypertensive emergencies are characterized by a severe increase in systolic or diastolic blood pressure (BP) or both, associated with signs or symptoms of acute organ damage (i.e., cardiovascular, renal, and central nervous system). These conditions require an immediate BP reduction (not necessarily a normalization), to protect vital organ function; this is usually obtained by the intravenous administration of antihypertensive agents (1,2). The most common clinical presentations of hypertensive emergencies include acute left ventricular failure, acute aortic dissection, acute coronary syndromes, hypertensive encephalopathy, acute brain infarction or intracerebral hemorrhage, pheochromocytoma crisis, and eclampsia (Table 38.1A).
