Hypertensive Emergency

Brief HPI:

A 62 year-old female with a history of hypertension, diabetes and coronary artery disease is brought to the emergency department with altered mental status. The patient is confused and unable to provide history. Her family note that symptoms have been gradually worsening for the past one day and she had previously been in her usual state of good health. There was no history of recent illness, medication changes, recreational substance use, sick contacts, or travel.

On evaluation, vital signs were notable for hypertension (224/120mmHg, comparable on all extremities) though otherwise normal including afebrile core temperature – capillary glucose was 114mg/dL. On examination, the patient was awake and alert, making coordinated movements symmetrically in all four extremities without hyperreflexia or increased tone. Speech was unintelligible and the patient was unable to follow simple commands.


Laboratory tests were notable for a serum creatinine of 1.2mg/dL (baseline unknown) but otherwise normal including CBC, troponin, TSH, and UA. ECG demonstrated left ventricular hypertrophy without acute ischemic changes. Imaging including chest radiograph and CT head non-contrast and CTA brain/neck were normal. Lumbar puncture was performed and CSF was normal.

Hospital Course

The patient was initiated on a continuous infusion of nicardipine for presumed hypertensive encephalopathy and admitted to the medical intensive care unit. An MRI was performed on hospital day 1 and demonstrated chronic microvascular ischemic changes. The patient’s mental status gradually improved over the course of her hospitalization and she was discharged home on hospital day 4.

An Algorithm for the Evaluation and Management of Hypertensive Emergencies

An Algorithm for the Evaluation and Management of Hypertensive Emergencies



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Ischemic Stroke

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Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

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Aortic Disease



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