Significance/role of family medicine physicians in early detection of secondary hypertension

Abstract

SUMMARY - Introduction: Secondary arterial hypertension has an identifiable underlying cause. Routine screening is not indicated given the low prevalence of the disease (5-10% arterial hypertension), longterm and costly diagnostic evaluation. Case report: An outpatient family medication presents a 34-year-old patient due to worsening, by then stable, arterial hypertension. She was found 12 months ago when reported to a private healthcare facility where she was allowed perindopril / amlodipine 4/5 mg, 1x1 tablet. So far healthy, it negates diseases of relevance to inheritance. Smoker. 24hour outpatient blood pressure monitoring checks for elevated diastolic blood pressure levels in 59,3% of measurements during the day and 59,2% of measurements during the night. Thyroid ultrasound checks for inhomogeneous structure, right flap 40x15x16 mm, left flap 42x15x16 mm. Abdominal ultrasound reduces left kidney, bilateral thinning cortex, left ventricular moderate hydronephrosis. The laboratory contains large amounts of tyrosimulating hormone as well as antibodies to thyroid peroxidase, decreased levels of free thyroxine and a slight increase in albumin in 24 hours of urine. The patient is referred for a consultative examination by a nephrologist and a nuclear medicine specialist. Same indicative hygiene dietary regimen and introduction of levothyroxine sodium tablets 100 mcg 1x 1 ¼ tablets (125 mcg). Antihypertensive therapy was discontinued at most months later, while levothyroxine sodium replacement therapy was reduced to 1 x 100 mcg. Conclusion: The work of a selected family physician in accordance with good clinical practice guidelines allows for the early detection, normalization or increase in the number of secondary hypertension, the reduction of the possibility of accommodation of irreversible changes in blood vessels, and coexisting essential hypertension.

Keywords

• secondary hypertension
• family medicine