- Section 1 ICU organization and management
- Section 2 Pharmacotherapeutics
- Section 3 Resuscitation
- Section 4 The respiratory system
- Section 5 The cardiovascular system
- Part 5.1 Physiology
- Part 5.2 Cardiovascular monitoring
- Part 5.3 Acute chest pain and coronary syndromes
- Part 5.4 Aortic dissection
- Part 5.5 The hypotensive patient
- Part 5.6 Cardiac failure
- Part 5.7 Tachyarrhythmias
- Part 5.8 Bradyarrhythmias
- Part 5.9 Valvular problems
- Part 5.10 Endocarditis
- Part 5.11 Severe hypertension
- Chapter 162 Pathophysiology and causes of severe hypertension
- Chapter 163 Management of severe hypertension in the ICU
- Part 5.12 Severe capillary leak
- Part 5.13 Pericardial tamponade
- Part 5.14 Pulmonary hypertension
- Part 5.15 Pulmonary embolus
- Section 6 The gastrointestinal system
- Section 7 Nutrition
- Section 8 The renal system
- Section 9 The neurological system
- Section 10 The metabolic and endocrine systems
- Section 11 The haematological system
- Section 12 The skin and connective tissue
- Section 13 Infection
- Section 14 Inflammation
- Section 15 Poisoning
- Section 16 Trauma
- Section 17 Physical disorders
- Section 18 Pain and sedation
- Section 19 General surgical and obstetric intensive care
- Section 20 Specialized intensive care
- Section 21 Recovery from critical illness
- Section 22 End-of-life care
(p. 763) Pathophysiology and causes of severe hypertension
- Chapter:
- (p. 763) Pathophysiology and causes of severe hypertension
- Author(s):
Jerrold H. Levy
and David Faraoni
- DOI:
- 10.1093/med/9780199600830.003.0162
Hypertension affects multiple groups of patients characterized by different clinical presentations and a spectrum of potential causes. The pathophysiology is complex and multifactorial. Although most patients are labelled ‘essential hypertension’, multiple mechanisms are involved in blood pressure regulation. Factors that influence blood pressure homeostasis include endothelial function, the renin-angiotensin system, and the sympathetic nervous system. In elderly patients, hypertension is common as the vascular system and arterial stiffness also contribute. Other important factors include inflammatory processes as part of systemic diseases, including atherosclerosis,which may contribute to renal and vascular injury. Hypertension is also associated with metabolic disturbances including dyslipidaemia that manifests in obese patients who also have insulin resistance. These different pathways all represent potential targets for treatment, but also increase the challenge of multimodal pathophysiology.
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- Section 1 ICU organization and management
- Section 2 Pharmacotherapeutics
- Section 3 Resuscitation
- Section 4 The respiratory system
- Section 5 The cardiovascular system
- Part 5.1 Physiology
- Part 5.2 Cardiovascular monitoring
- Part 5.3 Acute chest pain and coronary syndromes
- Part 5.4 Aortic dissection
- Part 5.5 The hypotensive patient
- Part 5.6 Cardiac failure
- Part 5.7 Tachyarrhythmias
- Part 5.8 Bradyarrhythmias
- Part 5.9 Valvular problems
- Part 5.10 Endocarditis
- Part 5.11 Severe hypertension
- Chapter 162 Pathophysiology and causes of severe hypertension
- Chapter 163 Management of severe hypertension in the ICU
- Part 5.12 Severe capillary leak
- Part 5.13 Pericardial tamponade
- Part 5.14 Pulmonary hypertension
- Part 5.15 Pulmonary embolus
- Section 6 The gastrointestinal system
- Section 7 Nutrition
- Section 8 The renal system
- Section 9 The neurological system
- Section 10 The metabolic and endocrine systems
- Section 11 The haematological system
- Section 12 The skin and connective tissue
- Section 13 Infection
- Section 14 Inflammation
- Section 15 Poisoning
- Section 16 Trauma
- Section 17 Physical disorders
- Section 18 Pain and sedation
- Section 19 General surgical and obstetric intensive care
- Section 20 Specialized intensive care
- Section 21 Recovery from critical illness
- Section 22 End-of-life care