title: Hypertensive Emergencies in the Emergency Department.
abstract: Hypertension affects approximately one-third of Americans. An additional 30% are unaware that they harbor the disease. Significantly increased blood pressure constitutes a hypertensive emergency that could lead to end-organ damage. When organs such as the brain, heart, or kidney are affected, an intervention that will lower the blood pressure in several hours is indicated. Several pharmacologic options are available for treatment, with intravenous antihypertensive therapy being the cornerstone, but there is no standard of care. Careful consideration of each patient's specific complaint, history, and physical examination guides the emergency physician through the treatment algorithm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 110 South Paca Street, 6th Floor, Suite 200, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. Electronic address: yadebayo@umem.org.
authors.forename: Omoyemi
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Adebayo
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 110 South Paca Street, 6th Floor, Suite 200, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Rogers
mesh_terms: D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000188:drug therapy; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015897:Comorbidity; D004630:Emergencies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D020343:Hypertensive Encephalopathy / Q000188:drug therapy; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000188:drug therapy; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents
keywords: Hypertension; Hypertensive crisis; Hypertensive emergency