title: Hypertensive crisis: an update on clinical approach and management.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Here, we review current concepts on hypertensive crisis (HTN-C) with a focus on epidemiology, causes, pathophysiology and prognosis. We also offer a practical approach to the management of HTN-C.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HTN-C is characterized by a severe and abrupt increase in blood pressure (BP) with impending or progressive acute end-organ damage (EOD). HTN-C can be divided into hypertensive emergency (HTN-E) and hypertensive urgency (HTN-U) based on the presence or absence of acute EOD, respectively. Recent retrospective studies have demonstrated that emergency department (ED) referrals from an outpatient clinic or rapid BP-lowering strategies in the ED do not lead to improved outcomes in patients with HTN-U.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HTN-C can be a de-novo manifestation or a complication of essential or secondary HTN. The presence of acute EOD is a major poor prognostic indicator in HTN-C. The main objectives of the management of HTN-C are distinction of HTN-E from HTN-U and appropriate risk stratification, prevention or regression of acute EOD due to severely elevated BP, prevention of recurrence of HTN-C with an effective long-term management plan and avoidance of rapid lowering of BP except in some special circumstances. The majority of patients with asymptomatic HTN-U can be safely managed in the outpatient setting without exposing them to the risks of aggressive BP lowering. However, patients with HTN-E require hospitalization, prompt treatment and close monitoring.
authors.affiliation: aDepartment of Cardiology, Erzurum Training and Research Hospital, Erzurum, Turkey bDepartment of Cardiovascular Diseases, John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute cOchsner Clinical School - The University of Queensland School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
authors.forename: Emrah
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ipek
authors.forename: Ahmet Afşin
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Oktay
authors.forename: Selim R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Krim
mesh_terms: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010045:Outpatients
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents