title: Hypertensive emergencies:  an update.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Systemic hypertension (HTN) is a common medical condition affecting over 1 billion people worldwide. One to two percent of patients with HTN develop acute elevations of blood pressure (hypertensive crises) that require medical treatment. However, only patients with true hypertensive emergencies require the immediate and controlled reduction of blood pressure with an intravenous antihypertensive agent.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although the mortality from hypertensive emergencies has decreased, the prevalence and demographics of this disorder have not changed over the last 4 decades. Clinical experience and reported data suggest that patients with hypertensive urgencies are frequently inappropriately treated with intravenous antihypertensive agents, whereas patients with true hypertensive emergencies are overtreated with significant complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite published guidelines, most patients with hypertensive crises are poorly managed with potentially severe outcomes.
authors: Department of Medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia, USA. marikpe@evms.edu
authors: Paul E
authors: PE
authors: Marik
authors: Racquel
authors: R
authors: Rivera
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D016638:Critical Illness; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D007741:Labetalol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009529:Nicardipine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015995:Prevalence; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D011412:Propanolamines; D009529:Nicardipine; C036604:esmolol; D007741:Labetalol