A comparative study of intravenous labetalol VS intravenous nitroglycerin in the treatment of hypertensive crises

Hypertensive crises is still a major public health problem, causing end organ damage like myocardial infarction, stroke, and renal failure. Labetalol and nitroglycerine are among the two most commonly used medicine to control the blood pressure, but there is no head to head comparison between these two medicines. This was a prospective randomized non-blinded study which included 50 patients of hypertensive crises, out which 25 patients received intravenous labetalol and 25 patients received intravenous nitroglycerine. We found that labetalol controlled the blood pressure more rapidly in comparison to nitroglycerine, without causing any extra side effect

Crisis hipertensivas en edades pediátricas

RESUMEN En el presente trabajo hacemos una revisión de los diferentes puntos de corte de hipertensión arterial severa capaz de provocar una crisis hipertensiva. Nos proponemos actualizar los criterios de diagnóstico y tratamiento de las crisis hipertensivas en edades pediátricas. Se describe la epidemiología, etiología, fisiopatología y manifestaciones clínicas de las crisis hipertensivas. Se aborda el manejo terapéutico teniendo en cuenta las características propias de cada paciente, los medicamentos más utilizados, las dosis y vía de administración, con la recomendación de evitar el descenso brusco de las cifras de presión arterial por el daño que puede causar. No existe un consenso en pediatría sobre el punto de corte que defina hipertensión severa capaz de desarrollar una crisis hipertensiva. La severidad de las cifras de presión arterial por sí solas no define la gravedad de la crisis, un cambio agudo en la presión arterial es más relevante que el grado absoluto de su elevación. La afectación sistémica o de órgano diana es la que marca la diferencia entre urgencia y emergencia hipertensiva y la celeridad en el tratamiento. Concluimos que las crisis hipertensivas en edades pediátricas se producen con mayor frecuencia en la hipertensión arterial secundaria, no obstante, pueden ocurrir en adolescentes con hipertensión arterial esencial. No existe un consenso en pediatría sobre el punto de corte que defina hipertensión severa capaz de desarrollar una crisis hipertensiva.

ABSTRACT In the present work we make a review of the different cut-off points of severe arterial hypertension that can cause a hypertensive crisis. We intend to update the criteria for the diagnosis and treatment of hypertensive crises in pediatric ages. The epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology and clinical manifestations of hypertensive crises are described. Therapeutic management is addressed taking into account the characteristics of each patient, the most used drugs, doses and route of administration, with the recommendation to avoid the sharp drop in blood pressure figures due to the damage it can cause. There is no consensus in pediatrics on the cut-off point that defines severe hypertension can develop a hypertensive crisis. The severity of blood pressure figures alone does not define the severity of the crisis, an acute change in blood pressure is more relevant than the absolute degree of BP elevation. Systemic or target organ involvement is what makes the difference between urgency and hypertensive emergency and the speed of treatment. We conclude that hypertensive crises in pediatric ages occur more frequently in secondary arterial hypertension, however, they can occur in adolescents with essential arterial hypertension. There is no consensus in pediatrics on the cut-off point that defines severe hypertension can develop a hypertensive crisis.

Características clínicas de los pacientes con crisis hipertensivas que acuden a un Servicio de emergencias médicas

RESUMEN Introducción: los niveles de presión arterial por encima de las cifras normales aumentan el riesgo de padecer enfermedades cardiovasculares y cerebrales. Las complicaciones ocasionadas por las crisis hipertensivas son muy peligrosas y a menudo fatales. Es de suma importancia conocer bien sus características clínicas para tratar de contrarrestar su evolución. Objetivo: describir el comportamiento de las crisis hipertensivas en 500 pacientes del Servicio de Emergencias del Hospital de Clínicas, en el período de enero a junio de 2018. Metodología: estudio descriptivo y retrospectivo. Se utilizaron las hojas de recepción, acogida y clasificación de urgencias y las historias clínicas de pacientes ingresados con crisis hipertensivas. Se emplearon frecuencias absolutas y relativas (porcentaje) para resumir la información, y tablas para su presentación. Resultados: en el estudio predominó el sexo masculino, con 351 (70%) pacientes, y 149 (30%) de sexo femenino. El grupo etario en el que existió mayor predominio de pacientes (49%) fue el de 50-59 años de edad. Se observó un predominio de las urgencias hipertensivas con 399 (79,8%) pacientes, mientras que solo 101 (20,2%) pacientes desarrollaron emergencias hipertensivas. El órgano diana más frecuentemente dañado fue el cerebro en 43 (42,6%) pacientes con un accidente vascular cerebral, seguido por el síndrome coronario agudo en 34 (33,7%) pacientes. La alteración electrocardiográfica mas frecuente fue la hipertrofia del ventrículo izquierdo en 187 (37,4%) pacientes, y en segundo lugar se encontró el supradesnivel del ST, que se presentó en 111 (22,2%) pacientes. Conclusión: las complicaciones y los hallazgos más significativos en estos pacientes con crisis hipertensivas fueron los accidentes vasculares encefálicos y el síndrome coronario agudo, así como la hipertrofia del ventrículo izquierdo y la elevación del segmento ST dentro de las alteraciones electrocardiográficas.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Blood pressure levels above normal levels increase the risk of cardiovascular and cerebral diseases. Complications caused by hypertensive crises are very dangerous and often fatal. It is very important to know their clinical characteristics well to try to counteract their evolution. Objective: To describe the behavior of hypertensive crises in 500 patients of the Emergency Service of the Hospital de Clínicas, in the period from January to June 2018. Methodology: Descriptive and retrospective study. The reception and emergency classification sheets and the medical records of patients admitted with hypertensive crisis were used. Absolute and relative frequencies (percentage) were used to summarize the information, and tables for presentation. Results: In the study the male sex prevailed, with 351 (70%) patients, and 149 (30%) of female sex. The age group in which there was a greater prevalence of patients (49%) was 50-59 years old. A predominance of hypertensive urgencies was observed with 399 (79.8%) patients, while only 101 (20.2%) patients developed hypertensive emergencies. The most frequently damaged target organ was the brain in 43 (42.6%) patients with a stroke, followed by acute coronary syndrome in 34 (33.7%) patients. The most frequent electrocardiographic alteration was left ventricular hypertrophy in 187 (37.4%) patients, and in the second place was the ST elevation, which occurred in 111 (22.2%) patients. Conclusion: The most significant complications and findings in these patients with hypertensive crises were cerebrovascular accidents and acute coronary syndrome, as well as left ventricular hypertrophy and ST-segment elevation within electrocardiographic abnormalities.

Síndrome del dedo azul como manifestación de feocromocitoma / Blue toe syndrome as a clinical finding of pheochromocytoma

Los feocromocitomas son tumores que proceden de las células cromafines del sistema nervioso simpático y actúan sintetizando y liberando catecolaminas. Suelen presentarse entre la cuarta y quinta década de la vida y tienen presentaciones clínicas muy diversas. Ocurren solamente en 0.1-0.2% de la población hipertensa, constituyen una causa tratable y curable de hipertensión arterial, así como de otras manifestaciones derivadas de la liberación incontrolada de catecolaminas. La isquemia arterial periférica secundaria a la liberación masiva de aminas por un feocromocitoma es muy infrecuente. Aquí se presenta un caso clínico de feocromocitoma manifestado como síndrome del dedo azul en un paciente con pulsos distales conservados y el antecedente de mal control tensional a pesar de tratamiento con dos fármacos.

Pheochromocytomas are tumors that arise from chromaffin cells of the sympathetic nervous system and act by synthesizing and releasing catecholamines. They usually occur between the fourth and fifth decade of life and have a very wide clinical presentation. They occur only in 0.1-0.2% of the hypertensive population and represent a treatable and curable cause of arterial hypertension, as well as other symptoms derived from the uncontrolled secretion of catecholamines. Peripheral arterial ischemia secondary to massive amines release by a pheochromocytoma is a very uncommon condition. Here we report a case of pheochromocytoma manifested as blue finger syndrome in a patient with palpable distal pulses and history of poor blood pressure control despite treatment with two drugs.

Management of hypertension: focus on current treatment algorithms.

One of the main obstacles in the treatment of hypertension is the largely asymptomatic nature of the disease, even with marked elevation in systemic blood pressure. This disconnect between symptoms and long term adverse consequences has earned hypertension the designation, “silent killer”. Fortunately, the number and spectrum of agents available to treat patients with hypertension have expanded dramatically over the past 2 decades. Current treatment algorithms recognize that any given drug will likely have effect on more than one of the interrelated systems that regulate circulatory functions.

Diagnosis and treatment of hypertensive crises in the elderly patients / 老年心脏病学杂志（英文版）

Hypertension is a common clinical problem in the elderly worldwide and physicians of all types are likely to encounter patients with hypertensive urgencies and emergencies in these patients. Although various terms have been applied to these conditions,they are all characterized by acute elevations in blood pressure and evidence of end-organ injury. Prompt, but carefully considered therapy is necessary to limit morbidity and mortality. A wide range of pharmacologic alternatives are available to the practitioner to control blood pressure and treat complications in these patients. The management of the elderly patient with hypertensive crises needs to include close monitoring and a gentle decline in blood pressure to avoid catastrophic complications, exacerbation of ischemic myopathy, and vascular insufficiency.