Pathology THERA

Important causes include:

  • Renal: GN, renal artery stenosis, Renin tumors
  • Endocrine: pheochromocytoma, hyperthyroidism, hyperaldosteronism, hypercortisolism, OCP
  • Vascular: Coarctation of aorta, PAN, Aortic insufficiency.
  • Neurogenic: Psychogenic, raised intracranial pressure, polyneuritis, Obstructive sleep apnea,
  • certain drugs (e.g., sympathomimetics).
  • Pregnancy-induced hypertension
  • C.V Cause
  • miscellaneous causes: Oral contraceptives, corticosteroids,, cyclosporine, clonidine withdrawal , carbenoxolone, cocaine , sympathomimetic agents, NSAIDs, liquorice,, erythropoietin

THERA HTN RENAL ARTERY STENOSIS

  • Secondary to some other disease
  • Accounts for less than 10% of HTN cases
  1. Renal etiologies: Commonest etiology of secondary HTN is renal disease :
  • Chronic renal failure ( due to any cause)
  • Renal artery stenosis
  • DM nephropathy
  • Polycystic kidney disease
  1. Endocrine Causes :
  • Excess cortisol (Cushing’s disease)
  • Excess aldosterone (Conn’s syndrome)
  • Excess noradrenaline ( Pheochromocytoma) ( all above are adrenal diseases)
  1. Drugs & Meds. :
  • NSAIDs, * Steroids, * Estrogens, * Flu & cold meds ( will worsen HTN), * Cocaine

WHEN TO SUSPECT SEC. HTN?

  1. Young age ( less than 30 yrs)
  2. HTN not responding to max. therapy
  3. Clinical features of the secondary causes ( acromegaly, Cushing’s etc)

CL Med (cc)

1) Renal Etiologies

Disease; DM, Renal Artery Stenosis Chronic Renal failure/ Kidney diseases; due aldosterone and angiotensin stressors due reduced GFR e.g. known stressors

2) Endocrine Causes

  • increase Cortisol (Cushing’s Syndrome); “Disease if origin from pituitary ”
  • increase Aldosterone (Conn’s Disease); water/salt retention
  • increase Noradrenaline; (Pheochromocytoma);

3) Drugs/Medications

  • Nsaids
  • Steroids
  • Estrogens
  • flu & Cold medications
  • Cocaine

Suspecting HTn

  • Usually Young person,
  • with no positive effect of lower hypertension whilst using therapy of HTN
  • Prior diseases such as; acromegaly, Cushing’s

S/S

Pallor, Angina,

Physical Examination (CC)
  • Check Pulse, S/S of stroke
  • Retinopathy
  • Murmurs, CHF
  • Renal Artery Bruits
  • …
  • …