Hypertensive urgency and hypertensive emergency

Hypertensive urgency can occur at all forms and stages of arterial hyperten sion and can be usually managed without hospitalisation. Ln a hypertensive emergency the increase of blood pressure can result in end-organ damage suc h as progressive central nervous system, myocardial, or renal deterioration and requires immediate and controlled reduction in blood pressure. The cho ice of appropriate antihypertensive medication, the extent of the reduction of blood pressure and the site of application are determined by symptoms a nd extent of blood pressure elevation as well as by the previous cardiovasc ular state of the patient. Adequate therapeutical management is essential t o avoid catastrophic injury of end-organs as a result of a delay in initiat ing effective therapy or of overly aggressive reduction in blood pressure.