hypertension and hyperlipidemia Flashcards
elevated blood pressure
hypertension
How is Hypertension Diagnosed?
- A single elevated blood pressure reading is NOT sufficient to establish the diagnosis
There are major exceptions to this:
* HTN presenting with obvious evidence of life-threatening end-organ damage (HTN emergency)
* In absence of life-threatening end organ injury, when BP is >220/125 mm Hg
- It typically requires more than one reading to diagnose (do this
as quickly as possible) - A 3-month delay in treatment in high-risk patients is associated with a
twofold increase in CV morbidity and mortalit
normal BP
< 120/80
elevated BP
120-129/<80
stage 1 HTN
130-139/80-89
stage 2 HTN
> 140/90
white coat hypertension
only high at the doctors
masked hypertension
normal at office and high at home
labile hypertension
variable high and lows
- 95% of hypertensive patients
- Results from complex interactions between multiple genetic and
environmental factors (no identifiable cause) (genetic) - Onset 25-50 years old
primary essential hypertension
- Obesity
- Sleep apnea
- Increased salt intake
- Excessive alcohol use
- Polycythemia
- NSAID therapy
- Low potassium intake
Coffee and cigarette smoking may cause a transient increase in BP
but do not seem to be associated with sustained elevations
primary essential hypertension: exacerbating factors
- 5% of hypertensive patients
- Results from identifiable specific cause
- Suspect in patients whom:
- HTN develops at a young age or >50 years of age
- Previously controlled becomes refractory to treatment
secondary hypertension
causes of secondary hypertension
RENAL
- Best understood pathways:
- Overactivation of sympathetic nervous system
- Overactivation of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS)
- Blunting of the pressure-natriuresis relationship
- Variation in cardiovascular and renal development
- Elevated intracellular sodium and calcium level
how primary essential hypertension occurs
- Definition:
- Upper body obesity
- Insulin resistance
- Hypertriglyceridemia
- Associated with hypertension and increased risk of adverse CV
outcomes - Labs:
- Low HDL cholesterol
- Elevated catecholamines
- Elevated inflammatory markers (CRP)
metabolic syndrome
- Suspect in patients if:
- Hypertension develops at an early age or after age 50
- Those previously well controlled who become refractory to
treatment - Hypertension resistant to maximum doses of 3 medications
is a clue - BUT keep in mind that multiple medications are usually required to
control HTN in persons with diabetes
secondary hypertension
most common cause of
secondary hypertension
Blood pressure is elevated in CKD due to:
* Increased intravascular volume
* Increased activity of RAAS
* Activation of the sympathetic nervous system
renal parenchymal
Secondary HTN- Kidney Disease
- Renal artery stenosis- present in 1-2% of hypertensive patients
- MC cause: arteriosclerosis
- Fibromuscular dysplasia should be suspected in women <50 years of age
- Excessive renin release occurs due to reduction in renal perfusion
pressure
should be suspected in the following circumstances:
* Documented onset is before age 20 or after age 50
* HTN is resistant to 3 or more drugs
* There are epigastric or renal artery bruits
* There is atherosclerosis disease of aorta or peripheral arteries
* Abrupt increase (>25%) in serum creatinine after administration of ACE inhibitor
* Episodes of pulmonary edema are associated with abrupt surges in blood pressure
secondary HTN –> renal vascular hypertension
diagnostics If suspicion is high for secondary HTN renal vascular disease and endovascular intervention is a viable
option
renal arteriography (the definitive diagnostic test), is the
best approach
diagnostics If suspicion is moderate to low for renal vascular disease
noninvasive angiography using
MR or CT
Excess glucocorticoid
* Salt and water retention (via mineralocorticoid effects)
* Increased angiotensinogen levels
* Permissive effects in regulation of vascular tone
(Will discuss more in endocrinology module
secondary HTN- Cushing syndrome
Increased aldosterone secretion from an adrenal adenoma or
bilateral adrenal hyperplasia
Secondary HTN- Primary
Hyperaldosteronism
- The blood pressure elevation caused by the catecholamine excess
results mainly from alpha-receptor-mediated vasoconstriction of
arterioles, with a contribution from beta-1-receptor-mediated
increases in cardiac output and renin release - Chronic vasoconstriction of the arterial and venous beds leads to a
reduction in plasma volume and predisposes to postural hypotension - Hypertensive crisis in pheochromocytoma may be precipitated by a
variety of drugs, including tricyclic antidepressants, antidopaminergic
agents, metoclopramide, and naloxone
Secondary HTN- Pheochromocytoma
- Small increase in blood pressure occurs in most women taking
oral contraceptives - 5% of women may have a more significant increase of 8/6 mm
Hg systolic/diastolic - Mostly obese
- > 35 years of age
- Treated >5 years
- Caused by increased hepatic synthesis of angiotensinogen
- Lower dose of postmenopausal estrogen does not generally
cause hypertension but rather maintains endothelium-mediated
vasodilation
Secondary HTN- Estrogen Use
- Uncommon cause of hypertension
- Evidence of radial-femoral delay should be sought in all
younger patients with hypertension
Secondary HTN- Coarctation of the Aorta
Hypertension- When to Refer?
- Severe
- Resistant
- Early-/late-onset hypertension
Complications of Untreated Hypertension
- Structural and functional changes in vasculature and heart
- Thrombosis
- ↑ vascular shear stress converts normally anticoagulant endothelium to a prothrombotic state
- Excess morbidity and mortality related to HTN approximately doubles for each 6 mm Hg increase in diastolic blood pressure
- Target-organ damage
Clinical and laboratory findings of HTN arise from involvement
of the target organs
- Heart
- Brain
- Kidneys
- Eyes
- Peripheral arteries
- Asymptomatic for years
- Headache most frequent symptom*
Mild to moderate primary (essential) hypertension
- Events where uncontrolled HTN results in end-organ damage
- Presenting symptoms depend on profile of organ injury
hypertensive emergencies
Usually asymptomatic and typically presents as incidental finding
uncontrolled HTN
Blood Pressure
* Difference of BP in the arms (subclavian stenosis)
* Orthostatic drop (20/10 mm Hg) (pheochromocytoma)
* Osler sign: falsely elevated BP seen in older patients
* Palpable brachial or radial artery when the cuff is inflated above SBP
Retina
* Narrowing of arterial diameter, copper or silver wiring, AV nicking, cotton wool spots, exudates, hemorrhages, papilledema, sausage-shaped veins (hypertensive retinopathy)**
Heart
* LV heave (severe hypertrophy)
* Aortic regurgitation murmur
* S4 gallop
Pulses
* Radial-femoral delay (coarctation of aorta)
* Loss of peripheral pulse (atherosclerosis, Takayasu arteries and aortic dissection)
signs of hypertensive emergencies
what labs to order for hypertension to check:
* Hemoglobin
* Serum electrolytes
* Serum creatinine
* Fasting glucose
* Plasma lipids
* Serum uric acid
* UA
CBC, BMP, CMP, lipid panel, UA
diagnostics for hypertension (you don’t have to do this)
- ECG
- Chest X-ray
- Echocardiogram
who should be treated with BP medications
- All patients when BP reduction will reduce CV risk
- Office-based BP exceeding 160/100 mm Hg (regardless of CV risk)
nonpharmacologic therapy for hypertension
- weight loss if they are obese
- DASH diet (fruits, veggies)
- restrict sodium
- limit alchohol intake
- exercise
- mindfulness
- Hypertension
- Cigarette smoking
- Obesity (BMI ≥ 30)
- Physical inactivity
- Dyslipidemia
- Diabetes
- Microalbuminuria or eGFR <60
- Age (>55 y men; >65 y women)
- Family history of premature CV
disease (<55 men; <65 women)
Major Risk Factors of cardiovascular disease and probably should be put on meds
- Heart (LVH; angina or prior MI;
prior coronary revascularization;
HF) - Brain (stroke or TIA)
- CKD
- Peripheral artery disease
- Retinopathy
target organ damage and you should be asking questions about this
how to treat risk factors of CV
(secondary prevention)
Statins (Rosuvastatin 10 mg)
* Reduces LDL-C and significantly reduces risk of multiple CV events
Low-dose aspirin (81 mg/day)
* No longer recommended in primary prevention of MI or stroke
* Is effective in prevention of recurrent CV events
* BP should be controlled first to minimize risk of cerebral hemorrhag
Antihypertensive Medications
initial therapy
- Many classes suitable for initial therapy
- ACE inhibitors
- ARBs
- CCB
- Diuretics
- BB
- Commonly used as the initial medication in mild to moderate HTN
- Names of medications–> -pril (lisinopril, enalapril, etc.)
- Both cardio- and renoprotective*
- Indications–> HTN in diabetes, nephropathy, CHF, post MI
- Initiating therapy–> baseline serum K+ and Cr levels
- Repeat levels 1-2 weeks after initiation
- S/E: first-dose hypotension, renal insufficiency, hyperkalemia, cough, skin rashes, angioedema, hyperuricemia
- CI: Pregnancy
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme
Inhibitors (ACE Inhibitor)
- Blocks effects of angiotensin II
- Names of medications: -sartan (losartan, valsartan)
- Can improve CV outcomes in patients with HTN
- Also in HF, type 2 diabetes with nephropathy
- Indications: patients who cannot tolerate BB or ACE-I (do not
use in combo with ACE-I) - SE: hyperkalemia, hypotension, renal insufficiency
- CI: Pregnancy
Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs)
- Cause vasodilation
Two classes
Dihydropyridines
* Have little to no effect on cardiac contractility
* Ex: amlodipine, nifedipine, nicardipine
Nondihydropyridines
* Affect cardiac contractility and conduction (used in HTN with afib)
* Ex: diltiazem, verapamil
- Indications: HTN, angina, Raynaud’s phenomenon
- SE: vasodilation, headache, dizziness, flushing, peripheral edema, bradycardia, constipation (verapamil)
- CI: CHF, 2nd/3rd AV blocks
- Amlodipine ONLY CCB with established safety in patients with severe HF
calcium channel blocking agents (CCB)
increases sodium and water excretion by preventing reabsorption of Na and water at the distal diluting tubule
* First-line for uncomplicated HTN
* SE: hyponatremia, hypokalemia, hypercalcemia, hyperglycemia, caution in gout and DM
* Meds: Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), Chlorthalidon
thiazide diuretics