What is hypertensive encephalopathy?

One of the complications of severe hypertension or high blood pressure is called hypertensive encephalopathy. This complication occurs when the brain does not receive enough blood supply to maintain life and function. It is important to distinguish hypertensive encephalopathy from other cerebrovascular diseases such as cerebral ischemia, stroke, delirium, seizures and uremic encephalopathy because treatment is different. If it is not treated, hypertensive encephalopathy may lead to a coma or death within hours. That is why the hypertensive emergency situation is called. The affected person is usually male and middle age. When Oppenheimer and Fishberg first used the term "hypertensive encephalopathy" in 1928, they referred to the constellation of symptoms, which included severe hypertension, acute kidney inflammation or nephritis and cerebral dysfunction. In the past, the brain symptoms that accompanied this type of encephalopathy included brain bleeding, transient ischemia, dizziness and headache. All these symptoms were associated withMalignant hypertension, a syndrome in which either a well -known hypertensive person experiences a sudden increase in blood pressure or a previously non -hypertensive person experiences a sharp and unpredictable increase in blood pressure.

However, the definition of hypertensive encephalopathy has been modified. It now refers to a transient and reversible neurological dysfunction in a person who is experiencing a malignant phase of hypertension. Other causes of this condition include acute nephritis, sudden neinaches of antihypertensives, Cushing syndrome, feochromocytoma and thrombosis of the renal artery. Pregnant women suffering from preeclampsia or eclampsia, as well as drugs of this condition are also at risk of SERS who take cocaine, dietylamide of lysergic acid acid (LSD) and amphetamines.

A person with this condition would complain about sudden onset of severe headaches, dizziness, confusion, blurred or impaired vision, nausea, vomiting and seizures. When the doctor examines his eyesThe patient is observed papillames or swelling of the optical disk, along with bleeding, spots of cotton wool and exudates. These findings on funduscopy are jointly called Grade IV changes and indicate an increase in intracranial pressure.

As this type of encephalopathy is solved, it can be explained by its pathophysiology. Normally, the blood flow of the blood is maintained despite changes in arterial pressure. For example, although the systolic blood pressure of an individual increases from 60 to 150 millimeters of mercury (mmhg), blood supply would not be endangered due to a process called authogulation. This is because small blograms are limited by arterioles in response to blood pressure reduction, while dilated in response to increased blood pressure. When an authogine mechanism fails in the upper range of blood pressure, the result of the blood vessel dilatation and excessive perfusion or hyperperfusion of the brain.

The aim of therapy is therefore to reduce blood pressure to restore normal perfusion. Treatment of hypertensive encephalopathy involves administration of parenter drugsthe way. These drugs include Nicardipine, Labetalol and Nitroprussid. They help spread the blood vessels, reducing blood pressure.