[Therapy resistant hypertension--significance of electronic compliance monitoring].
METHODS
A 71-year-old woman was admitted with arterial hypertension resistant to drug therapy (office readings 197/82 mmHg) under medication with beta-blocker, AT 1 -antagonist and a diuretic. The only physical pathologic finding was an adipositas.


METHODS
The patient was suffering from isolated systolic hypertension, grade 3 corresponding to WHO-guidelines. Despite antihypertensive triple therapy office as well as self-measured blood pressure values (mean 170/82 mmHg) remained elevated. Thus, the patient fulfilled the criteria of a resistant hypertension. The degree of compliance was only 50 %, detected by using a Medication-Event-Monitoring-System (correct dosing interval 17.1 %). We discussed the results of compliance- and blood pressure self-measurement with the patient. In the following period of compliance- and blood pressure self-measurement (with unchanged antihypertensive therapy) the compliance increased dramatically with a degree of 90,9 % and self-measured blood pressure values almost normalized (mean 137/71 mmHg).


CONCLUSIONS
The control of compliance by using electronic compliance-monitoring may help to discover non-compliance as a frequent cause of resistant hypertension and to avoid unnecessary cost-extensive procedures.
Baulmann
J
J
Medizinische Universitäts-Poliklinik, Bonn, Germany.
Düsing
R
R
Vetter
H
H
Mengden
Th
T
D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015924:Blood Pressure Monitors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010349:Patient Compliance
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents