Overview
The term hypertensive urgency is traditionally used for severe blood pressure elevation without acute target-organ injury.
The clinical approach depends on the overall patient context and should focus on confirming the blood pressure and assessing for occult organ injury.
Assessment
Repeat the measurement with appropriate technique and evaluate for symptoms suggesting neurological, cardiac, renal, or aortic complications.
Investigation
Investigations are guided by the clinical presentation and concern for underlying disease or acute target-organ injury.
Management
Management generally focuses on gradual blood pressure control, review of medications and adherence, and treatment of underlying risk factors rather than rapid normalization.
Clinical Pearls
The key distinction from hypertensive emergency is the absence of acute target-organ injury.
END OF REVIEW
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