title: Resolution of hypertensive retinopathy despite persistent high diastolic pressure.
abstract: Four patients with exudative retinopathy due to hypertension were observed for periods ranging from 12 to 35 months. Despite multiple drug therapy in high dosage and some clinic attendance, blood pressure was not controlled and remained severely elevated. Even though severe hypertension persisted, however, exudative phenomena disappeared and renal function remained stable during the follow-up period. Neither the pathogenesis nor the natural course of hypertensive retinopathy is yet fully understood. It is accepted that antihypertensive therapy causes gradual regression of the retinal changes of hypertensive retinopathy. There are no data concerning the natural course and progress of hypertensive retinopathy in patients with severe untreated hypertension. It is unclear why the patients in our study had complete regression of hypertensive retinopathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Soroka Medical Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University, Beer Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Lowenthal
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zimlichman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003971:Diastole; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D012166:Retinal Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents