title: Resistant Hypertension: An Incurable Disease or Just a Challenge For Our Medical Skill?
abstract: Resistant hypertension is classically defined as a clinical condition in which target blood pressure values of 140/90 mmHg are not achieved despite an optimal pharmacological therapy of at least three antihypertensive drugs, including a diuretic. The aim of this review is to give an outline of the nosography of this disorder, highlighting the differences between true and apparent resistant hypertension. Since the proportions of patients who can be defined as resistant to antihypertensive treatment is elevated, this distinction is mandatory in order to identify only those who need special clinical attention and, possibly, newer non-traditional techniques. While at first glance resistant hypertension may appear as an insuperable problem, an accurate clinical work-up of these patients, aimed at excluding reversible causes and optimizing pharmacological treatment, represents an effective solution in most cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56126, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Pilla
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56126, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosa Maria
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56126, Pisa, Italy. stefano.taddei@med.unipi.it.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taddei
mesh_terms: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D004351:Drug Resistance; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D017211:Treatment Failure
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents
keywords: Ambulatory blood pressure; Definition; Pseudoresistance; Resistant hypertension