MEDICATIONS TO MANAGE HYPERTENSIVE CRISIS

*Mohamed Ashraf PT

ABSTRACT

Hypertensive crisis, which is the most serious complication of hypertension, defined as a systolic blood pressure >180mm Hg and Diastolic blood pressure >120mm Hg. Hypertensive crisis can be further classified as a hypertensive urgency (No symptoms, signs, or laboratory findings of end organ damage ) or hypertensive emergency ( depending on end organ involvement including cardiac, renal and neurological injury). The rapid reduction of BP carries the risk of impairing blood supply to vital structures, such as the brain and heart. The 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines [1] recommend an initial reduction in SBP by no more than 25%, except in certain clinical scenarios such as acute aortic dissection or preeclampsia / eclampsia, when a larger and more rapid reduction in BP may be preferred.

Keywords: Hypertensive crisis, hypertensive emergency, hypertensive urgency, emergency medications, sodium nitroprusside, labetolol.