Malignant Hypertension

Malignant hypertension is a serious condition necessitating prompt treatment to reduce organ damage or the risk of sudden death from cerebral hemorrhage.  Characteristic features of malignant hypertension is chronically raised blood pressure, progressive organ failure especially kidneys and the eyes.  It affects certain populations more than others as well.  Essential hypertension typically progresses to malignant hypertension.  Malignant hypertension is similar to secondary hypertension except that this hypertension is not necessarily the result of a pre-existing condition. Malignant hypertension is also often diagnosed in black males in their third or fourth decade and can also occur in previously fit individuals. 

Malignant Hypertension

All hypertension exhibits chronically elevated blood pressures above the normal range indicated by the Mayo clinic as “normal if it's below 120/80 mmHg.”  Most authorities suspect hypertension in a person with a blood pressure of more than 160/95 mmHg.  Malignant hypertension has a more specific definition.  Malignant hypertension is featured with a chronically raised diastolic blood pressure over 130-140 mmHg accompanying kidney disease.  Over time, cerebral bleeds and swelling of the eye can occur, leading to chronic headaches and blurred vision or blindness respectively.  Further consequences of severe malignant hypertension include detectable blood cells in urine as a result of renal failure.  If malignant hypertension has progressed to this point, it is likely that protein will also be found in urine.