title: Secondary hypertension: interfering substances.
abstract: A variety of therapeutic agents or chemical substances can induce either a transient or persistent increase in blood pressure or interfere with the blood pressure-lowering effects of antihypertensive drugs. Some agents either cause sodium retention and extracellular volume expansion or directly or indirectly activate the sympathetic nervous system. Other substances act directly on arteriolar smooth muscle or do not have a defined mechanism of action. Some medications that usually lower blood pressure may paradoxically increase blood pressure, and an increase in pressure may be encountered after their discontinuation. In general, these pressure increases are small and transient; however, severe hypertension involving encephalopathy, stroke, and irreversible renal failure have been reported. Careful evaluation of a patient's drug regimen may identify chemically induced hypertension and obviate unnecessary evaluation and direct to the optimal antihypertensive therapy. The present review summarizes the therapeutic agents or chemical substances that elevate blood pressure and their mechanisms of action.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Dept. and Hypertension Unit, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel. gross-e@zahav.net.il
authors.forename: Ehud
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grossman
authors.forename: Franz H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Messerli
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000009:adverse effects; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000009:adverse effects; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012307:Risk Factors; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D000431:Ethanol