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Hypertensive Encephalopathy
also see encephalopathy, hypertensive crisis
Pathology:
- malignant hypertension
- blood pressure > 180/120 mm Hg associated with end-organ damage
Clinical manifestations:
- confusion
- headache
- vision changes
Radiology:
- CT neuroimaging to exclude stroke & intracranial hemorrhage
Management:
- decrease blood pressure by 15% or target diastolic BP 100-110 mm Hg
- 1st line agents
- nicardipine
- labetolol
- nitroprusside*
* risk of cyanide toxicity [1]
Related
hypertension (HTN, high blood pressure, HBP)
General
hypertensive crisis (malignant hypertension)
encephalopathy
References
- Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 17,
American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 2015