Case of the Month #20 - hypertension

Published 01/02/2022

What end-organ damage is commonly seen in malignant hypertension?

  • Vasculature – small artery fibrinoid necrosis leading to microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia and DIC
  • Retina – flame haemorrhages, papilloedema
  • Brain – encephalopathy, seizures, acute intracerebral haemorrhage
  • Heart – acute left ventricular failure
  • Kidneys – acute kidney injury, proteinuria

Over the next few hours the patient continues to experience paroxysms of severe hypertension with associated sinus bradycardia. You suspect an underlying secondary cause for the patient’s hypertension.