Chronic hypertension causes

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Hypertension Main page

Overview

Causes

Classification

Primary Hypertension
Secondary Hypertension
Hypertensive Emergency
Hypertensive Urgency

Screening

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Assistant Editor-In-Chief: Yazan Daaboul, Serge Korjian

Overview

Secondary hypertension is only responsible for 5% of cases of chronic hypertension whereas primary hypertension (also known as essential hypertension where no identifiable cause is identified) is responsible for 95% of cases.[1] Common causes of secondary hypertension include obstructive sleep apnea, hyperaldosteronism, kidney diseases, excess catecholamines, coarctation of the arota, cushing syndrome among other diseases.


 
 
Chronic hypertension
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Primary hypertension
(also known as essential hypertension)
(95% of the cases)
 
Secondary hypertension

(5% of the cases)


Primary Hypertension

When a full evaluation yields no clear etiology for the elevated blood pressure, the latter is identified as primary hypertension. Primary or essential hypertension is considered a chronic disease requiring lifelong treatment and follow-up. If an underlying disease is identifiable as the cause, secondary hypertension is diagnosed. Secondary hypertension is a potentially curable condition in most cases.[2] In comparison, the prevalence of primary hypertension is significantly higher than secondary hypertension, where only 5-10% of patients have a secondary etiology[1] Classically, the common age range for the presentation of primary hypertension is 30 to 55 years[3], but age alone should never warrant a diagnosis of primary hypertension without a proper work-up.

Secondary Hypertension

When to Suspect Secondary Hypertension

It is not cost effective to evaluate all hypertensive patients for secondary hypertension. [2] There are certain clinical scenarios, though, that should prompt further evaluation.

Early Onset Hypertension Under Age 30

Primary hypertension generally first occurs between 30 and 55 years. Onset of hypertension before puberty and before age 30 in the absence of risk factors should raise suspicion for secondary hypertension.

Abrupt Onset of Hypertension in A Normotensive Patient

Rapidly Progressive Hypertension or a Hypertensive Emergency or Urgency

Refractory Hypertension

Common Causes of Secondary Hypertension

Common causes of secondary hypertension are often memorized by the mnemonic ABCDE:

Letter Causes of Secondary Hypertension
A Accuracy, Apnea, Aldosteronism
B Bruit, Bad Kidneys
C Catecholamines, Coarctation, Cushing’s Syndrome
D Drugs, Diet
E Erythropoitin, Endocrine Disorders
Accuracy

An accurate assessment and re-assessment of blood pressures is an essential first step when a patient presents with high blood pressure. The accuracy of home BP measurements should be confirmed by calibrating the patient's measurement technique with that obtained in the doctor's office.

Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a respiratory disease characterized by repetitive narrowing or collapse of the upper airway during sleep[4] leading to apnea, hypopnea, and a nocturnal decrease in oxygen tension.[5] Symptoms and signs that might suggest OSA include daytime somnolence, obesity, snoring, and morning headache.[6] Diagnosis is made by polysomnography. Treatment relies on maintaining airway patency at night and includes, among others, the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).

Aldosterone

Primary (hyporeninemic) and secondary (hyperreninemic) hyperaldosteronism result in excess sodium and water retention with excretion of potassium.[7] Common symptoms of hyperaldosteronism include fatigue, headache, hypertension, intermittent paralysis, muscle weakness, and numbness. The most common cause of primary hyperaldosteronism is an aldosterone-producing adenoma, i.e. Conn’s Syndrome. Secondary hyperaldosteronism is due to an overactive RAAS, as seen in renin-secreting tumors, renal artery stenosis, pheochromocytoma, and other syndromes. The diagnosis is made by measuring the ratio of plasma aldosterone to plasma renin activity.[8] It is elevated in primary hyperaldosteronism and decreased/normal with elevated renin in secondary hyperaldosteronism. Treatment depends upon the underlying etiology: surgery to resect an adenoma causing primary hyperaldosteronism and spironolactone, an aldosterone antagonist to treat secondary hyperaldosteronism.

Bruit

Renovascular hypertension is due to decreased blood supply to the kidneys secondary to renal artery stenosis. Atherosclerosis of the renal artery (renal artery stenosis) in older patients above 50 years of age[9] and fibromuscular dysplasia in younger patients are common etiologies. Definitive diagnosis is made by magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and renal arteriography.[10] Other diagnostic methods include duplex ultrasound scanning[11], and captopril-augmented radio-isotopic renogram[12]. Treatment is based upon the underlying etiology.

Bad Kidney (Chronic Renal Failure)

Renal parenchymal disease blunts the kidney’s physiological ability to maintain appropriate blood pressure. Notably, hypertension is both a cause and a consequence of renal parenchymal disease; the two are closely associated and may potentiate each other.[13] The diagnosis is made by demonstration of a decreased GFR. The mechanisms by which renal parenchymal disease leads to the development of hypertension are numerous and include activation of the local RAAS, release of vasoconstrictor cytokines, and inappropriate natriuresis for any given blood pressure.

Catecholamines

Catecholamine excess occurs in several non-disease states, such as acute stress, the administration of medications with sympathomimetic activity, and illicit drug use such as cocaine and these conditions can be ruled out by thorough history taking. Pheochromocytoma, a tumor of the adrenal gland leading to excess secretion of epinephrine, should be considered in young patients with the triad of intermittent hypertensive episodes causing headache, sweating, and tachycardia. However, pheochromocytoma in older adults or a presentation with sustained hypertension is not uncommon. Diagnostic studies to evaluate pheochromocytoma include measurement of plasma free metanephrines and urinary fractionated metanephrines. The diagnostic value of plasma and urinary catecholamines is of limited value given the very short half-life of catecholamines. Treatment is usually by surgical resection of the secreting tumor with appropriate adrenergic blockade.[14]

Coarctation

Coarctation of the aorta is a congenital heart defect, caused by a narrowing in a segment of the ascending or descending aorta. The diagnosis is often made in a neonate or an infant as a result of a weak femoral pulse or asymmetric brisk brachial pulses. Hypertension occurs as a result of a reduction in the effective circulation at the level of the kidneys which respond by increasing plasma volume which in turn causes hypertension in the upper extremities. Diagnosis is by CT angiography, but can also be made in neonates and infants by ultrasound of the heart and the great vessels. Definitive treatment is by surgical correction and or stenting.

Cushing’s Syndrome

Cushing's synfrome is an endocrine disorder caused by prolonged exposure to high endogenous or exogenous cortisol levels. Hypertension in Cushing’s syndrome has been classically attributed to the mineralocorticoid effects of cortisol. It manifests as an absent fall of nocturnal blood pressure physiologically seen in normotensive subjects with associated disturbance in the adrenocorticotropic hormone-glucocorticoid system.[15] Although an ideal diagnostic test is not considered yet available, clinicians often assess the 24-hour urinary cortisol excretion[16], a low-dose dexamethasone suppression test[17], late evening serum or salivary cortisol[18], and a CRH a following a dexamethasone test to establish the diagnosis.[19]

Drugs

An extensive list of drugs can be associated with hypertension. The most common agents include immunosuppressive agents, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, oral contraceptive pills, some weight loss agents, stimulants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, triptans, ergotamines, and sympathomimetics.[1]

Diet

In addition to the association of obesity with hypertension, the 2001 study “Effects on Blood Pressure of Reduced Dietary Sodium and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Diet” concluded that a high sodium diet above the recommended 100 mmol per day (2.4 g of sodium or 6 g of sodium chloride salt) is associated with hypertension. As a result, reduction of sodium levels below 100 mmol per day and following the DASH diet (rich in vegetables, fruits, with low-fat dairy products) can significantly lower BP.[20] Ingestion of excessive amounts of liquorice can lead to elevation in the blood pressure.

Erythropoietin

Elevated erythropoietin is typically seen in COPD patients who have functional anemia due to chronic hypoxia and in hematologic disorders such as polycythemia. The pathogenesis of erythropoietin-induced hypertension includes increased hematocrit and blood viscosity, altered sensitivity to vasopressors, dysregulated vasodilatory factors, and vascular cell growth causing arterial remodeling and changes in arterial smooth musculature.[21] Diagnosis and treatment are etiology-dependent.

Endocrine

In addition to the more common endocrine causes of hypertension such as hyperaldosteronism, Cushing’s syndrome, and pheochromocytoma, several other endocrine changes can cause hypertension. Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can cause hypertension by volume retention and by increased cardiac output, respectively. Also, hyperparathyroidism and hypovitaminosis D can cause hypertension due to poorly understood mechanisms, where parathyroidectomy seems to significantly decrease blood pressure in patients with parathyroid disease and elevated BP.[22] Acromegaly can also be a cause of hypertension.

Causes by Organ System

Cardiovascular Aortic regurgitation, aortic dissection, acute severe vascular damage, adams Nance syndrome , aneurysm, aortic coarctation , aortic stenosis, arterial occlusive disease, progressive - -- heart defects -- bone fragility -- brachysyndactyly , arteriosclerosis, atheroma, avasthey syndrome , carotid paraganglioma ,Congenital mitral stenosis , eisenmenger's Syndrome , fibromuscular dysplasia of arteries , grange syndrome , hemangiomatosis (familial pulmonary capillary disease), hypertensive heart disease , pulmonary artery agenesis , vasculitis , patent ductus arteriosus, third degree AV block
Chemical / poisoning Acetaldehyde , aristolochic acid poisoning , arizona Bark Scorpion poisoning , black widow spider envenomation , cadmium poisoning, cocaine, ecstasy abuse , ginseng , heavy metal poisoning, Indian tobacco poisoning, jimsonweed poisoning , lead poisoning , lockwood-Feingold syndrome , mustard tree poisoning , nicotine addiction , pseudoephedrine poisoning , silicosis , toxic mushrooms -- Psychedelic , lobelia poisoning
Dermatologic No underlying causes
Drug Side Effect almotriptan, dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, frovatriptan, isometheptene, rizatriptan, sumatriptan, zolmitriptan, amitriptyline, cyclosporine, desipramine, doxepin, ephedrine, glucocorticoid resistance , imipramine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, nasal decongestants, nortriptyline, NSAIDs, combined oral contraceptive pill, phencyclidine, phenylpropanolamine, protriptyline, pseudoephedrine, sedative dependence, serotonin toxicity, steroid abuse, cocaine
Ear Nose Throat Nephrosis -- deafness -- urinary tract -- digital malformation , Fitzsimmons-Walson-Mellor syndrome
Endocrine Carcinoid Syndrome, acromegaly , adrenal incidentaloma , alcohol-induced pseudo-Cushing syndrome , apparent mineralocorticoid excess , congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 11-Beta-hydroxylase deficiency, congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 17-alpha-hydroxylase deficiency, Conn's syndrome, cushing's disease, cushing's syndrome , diabetes, Familial cushing syndrome , graves disease , hyperadrenalism , hyperparathyroidism , hyperpituitarism , hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, isolated secretion of corticosterone, isolated secretion of deoxycorticosterone, mineralocorticoid excess, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1, myxoedema, pheochromocytoma, primary aldosteronism, primary cortisol resistance, pseudohyperaldosteronism , pseudohypoaldosteronism , Schroeder syndrome 1 , hyperthyroidism, hypoglycemia, isolated secretion of 18-hydroxy-deoxycorticosterone, renin-secreting tumors, dexamethasone sensitive hypertension
Environmental No underlying causes
Gastroenterologic Hepatorenal tyrosinemia , pancreatitis, retroperitoneal Fibrosis
Genetic Congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 11-Beta-hydroxylase deficiency, congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 17-alpha-hydroxylase deficiency, cockayne syndrome , down Syndrome , Fabry's Disease , isolated secretion of 18-hydroxy-deoxycorticosterone, Pierre Robin's sequence , Senior-Loken Syndrome, Turner Syndrome , Vater-like syndrome, with pulmonary hypertension, abnormal ears and growth deficiency , Von Hippel-Lindau Disease , Werner syndrome , Williams Syndrome , Gaucher disease type 3 , mucopolysaccharidosis type I Hurler syndrome
Hematologic Anemia, Atypical Hemolytic uremic syndrome, Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome , Essential mixed cryoglobulinemia , Faye-Petersen-Ward-Carey syndrome , hemolytic uremic syndrome , hypereosinophilic syndrome , Liddle's syndrome, Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis , polycythemia , thromboembolism , thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
Iatrogenic No underlying causes
Infectious Disease Poliomyelitis, meningitis, post streptococcal glomerulonephritis , renal tuberculosis, nipah virus encephalitis
Musculoskeletal / Ortho Acrodynia , Allain Babin Demarquez syndrome , familial osteodysplasia - Anderson type, Paget's disease of bone , Grange syndrome , Faye-Petersen-Ward-Carey syndrome , oculo skeletal renal syndrome , Thieffry and Sorrell Dejerine syndrome
Neurologic Guillain-Barre Syndrome, autonomic dysreflexia syndrome , Binswanger's Disease , Brain stem encephalitis, central sleep apnea , choroideremia -- hypopituitarism , disequilibrium syndrome , dysautonomia , hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy 3 , increased intracranial pressure, neurofibromatosis syndrome Type II , neurogenic hypertension , nipah virus encephalitis , obstructive sleep apnea , Sneddon Syndrome , upper spinal cord lesions, Wolfram's disease, meningitis, polyradiculitis, quadriplegia, Adams Nance syndrome , glycine encephalopathy - classical neonatal form, pituitary Cancer , Fitzsimmons-Walson-Mellor syndrome
Nutritional / Metabolic Abdominal obesity metabolic syndrome , acute intermittent porphyria , congenital hepatic porphyria , Gaucher disease type 3, glycine encephalopathy - classical neonatal form, glycine synthase deficiency , gouty nephropathy, liquorice, metabolic syndrome, tyrosinemia , Von Gierke disease IB, increased salt intake, mucopolysaccharidosis type I Hurler syndrome, Fabry's Disease , vitamin D -- adverse effects
Obstetric/Gynecologic Eclampsia , Fowler-Christmas-Chapple syndrome , gestational hypertension, HELLP syndrome , ovarian dysgenesis, PCOS, pregnancy toxemia /hypertension , twin-twin transfusion syndrome
Oncologic Endothelin producing tumor, adrenal Cancer , familial adrenal adenoma , renal Cancer , neuroblastoma

pituitary Cancer , renin-secreting tumors, rhabdoid tumor , Wilms' tumor , adrenal incidentaloma , familial renal cell carcinoma

Opthalmologic Isolated Ectopia lentis, oculo skeletal renal syndrome
Overdose / Toxicity Amphetamine abuse, almotriptan, dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, frovatriptan, isometheptene, rizatriptan, sumatriptan, zolmitriptan, amitriptyline, cyclosporine, desipramine, dexamethasone sensitive hypertension, doxepin, ephedrine, glucocorticoid resistance , imipramine, nasal decongestants, nortriptyline, combined oral contraceptive pill, phencyclidine, phenylpropanolamine, protriptyline, serotonin toxicity, steroid abuse, pseudoephedrine, cocaine
Psychiatric Anxiety
Pulmonary Asphyxia , bronchopulmonary dysplasia, COPD , Goodpasture syndrome , pulmonary cystic lymphangiectasis , pulmonary embolism , pulmonary fibrosis /granuloma , pulmonary veno-occlusive disease , pulmonary lymphangiomatosis, respiratory acidosis , respiratory failure , unilateral pulmonary agenesis , hyperventilation, obstructive sleep apnea , Wegener's granulomatosis
Renal / Electrolyte Bartter's Syndrome, dissection of the renal arteries, acid-base imbalance , acute renal failure , albuminuria , analgesic nephropathy syndrome , autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease , autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease , bilateral renal artery stenosis , Bright's Disease , chronic kidney disease , chronic pyelonephritis, congenital membranous glomerulonephritis, congenital stenosis of renal artery, congenital hydronephrosis, diffuse mesangial sclerosis, familial renal cell carcinoma , Fitzsimmons-Walson-Mellor syndrome , glomerulonephritis , hereditary nephritis (X-linked), hypoplastic kidney, IgA nephropathy , kidney arteriovenous fistula , Kimmelstiel-Wilson disease, lupus nephritis , nephrocalcinosis , nephrosclerosis , nephrosis -- deafness -- urinary tract -- digital malformation , nephrotic syndrome , oculo skeletal renal syndrome , Pierson syndrome , Severe infantile polycystic kidneys with tuberous sclerosis , post streptococcal glomerulonephritis , renal artery thrombosis, renal emboli, renal segmental hypoplasia-induced Hypertension , renal tuberculosis, Salcedo syndrome , simple kidney cysts , Thieffry and Sorrell Dejerine syndrome , urinary tract infections , urinary tract obstruction, vesicoureteral reflux , Wegener's granulomatosis , Gitelman's Syndrome, hepatorenal tyrosinemia , Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, gouty nephropathy, Goodpasture syndrome
Rheum / Immune / Allergy Autoimmune Vasculitis , systemic lupus erythematosus, diffuse systemic sclerosis , polyarteritis nodosa , Takayasu arteritis
Sexual No underlying causes
Trauma Electrical burns , head injury, skull fracture
Urologic No underlying causes
Dental No underlying causes
Miscellaneous Acquired total lipodystrophy , following kidney transplantation, aging, alcohol intake, alcohol withdrawal, amyloidosis , bone cement implantation syndrome, brachydactyly with hypertension, Carnevale-Canun-Mendoza syndrome , codeine withdrawal , collagen disease, essential hypertension, fever, Gram's syndrome , hypothermia, irradiation, Kashani-Strom-Utley syndrome , lymphomatoid granulomatosis , MSBD syndrome , neuroleptic malignant syndrome , obesity, physical inactivity , Selye syndrome , serotonin syndrome , shaken baby syndrome , stress-induced hypertension , type A personality, Wagener syndrome , pain, post-exercise, transfusion of large blood volumes, white coat hypertension

Causes in Alphabetical Order


References

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