enalaprilat-anhydrous and Pre-Eclampsia

Hypertensive emergency is defined as a systolic blood pressure > 180 mmHg or a diastolic blood pressure > 120 mmHg with evidence of new or progressive end-organ damage. The purpose of this paper is to review advances in the treatment of hypertensive emergencies within the last 5 years.. New literature and recommendations for managing hypertensive emergencies in the setting of pregnancy, stroke, and heart failure have been published. Oral nifedipine is now considered an alternative first-line therapy, along with intravenous hydralazine and labetalol for women presenting with pre-eclampsia. Clevidipine is now endorsed by guidelines as a first-line treatment option for blood pressure reduction in acute ischemic stroke and may be considered for use in intracranial hemorrhage. Treatment of hypertensive heart failure remains challenging; clevidipine and enalaprilat can be considered for use in this population although data supporting their use remains limited.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Antihypertensive Agents; Blood Pressure; Brain Ischemia; Emergencies; Enalaprilat; Female; Guideline Adherence; Heart Failure; Humans; Hydralazine; Hypertension; Infusions, Intravenous; Intracranial Hemorrhages; Labetalol; Nifedipine; Pre-Eclampsia; Pregnancy; Pyridines; Stroke

Severe hypertension is a common clinical problem in the United States, encountered in various clinical settings. Although various terms have been applied to severe hypertension, such as hypertensive crises, emergencies, or urgencies, they are all characterized by acute elevations in BP that may be associated with end-organ damage (hypertensive crisis). The immediate reduction of BP is only required in patients with acute end-organ damage. Hypertension associated with cerebral infarction or intracerebral hemorrhage only rarely requires treatment. While nitroprusside is commonly used to treat severe hypertension, it is an extremely toxic drug that should only be used in rare circumstances. Furthermore, the short-acting calcium channel blocker nifedipine is associated with significant morbidity and should be avoided. Today, a wide range of pharmacologic alternatives are available to the practitioner to control severe hypertension. This article reviews some of the current concepts and common misconceptions in the management of patients with acutely elevated BP.

Topics: Antihypertensive Agents; Aortic Aneurysm; Aortic Dissection; Clonidine; Diazoxide; Enalaprilat; Female; Fenoldopam; Humans; Hypertension; Labetalol; Nicardipine; Nifedipine; Nitroprusside; Phentolamine; Pre-Eclampsia; Pregnancy; Propanolamines; Trimethaphan