Clinical and pathogenetic aspects of hypertensive crises in patients with early signs of chronic cerebrovascular diseases

Abstract

The aim of the present retrospective study was the analysis ofcharacteristics of early signs of chronic cerebrovascular diseasesin patients with hypertension of grades 1 or 2 suffering fromhypertensive crises of various severity. We developed uniformdiagnostic criteria for hypertensive crises that allowed to identifythem and to assess their rate and severity. We studied 109 menand women (age 5069) with hypertension, who were dividedinto 2 groups: patients who suffered from hypertensive crises(n=65) and patients with no crises (n=44). Complex assessmentincluded 24-hour blood pressure monitoring, echocardiography,duplex scan of carotid, vertebral and cerebral arteries, and MRIof the head. Clinical and pathogenetic features of the developmentand progression of chronic cerebrovascular diseases inpatients with hypertension were disclosed, and profile characteristicsof such a type of patients with hypertensive crisis weredescribed. We plan to continue the prospective follow-up and toassess the efficacy of antihypertensive treatment for the preventionof recurrent crises.

Keywords

• hypertension
• hypertensive crisis
• chronic cerebrovascular diseases