Intravenous nicardipine and labetalol use in hypertensive patients with signs or symptoms suggestive of end-organ damage in the emergency department: a subgroup analysis of the CLUE trial

Intravenous nicardipine and labetalol use in hypertensive patients with signs or symptoms suggestive of end-organ damage in the emergency department: a subgroup analysis of the CLUE trial

Por: Chad M Cannon, Phillip Levy, Brigitte M Baumann, Pierre Borczuk, Abhinav Chandra, David M Cline, Deborah B Diercks, Brian Hiestand, Amy Hsu, Preeti Jois, Brian Kaminski, Richard M Nowak, Jon W Schrock, Joseph Varon y W Frank Peacock.   BMJ Open 2013;3:e002338 doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2012-002338.

Systemic hypertension is a common medical condition affecting over 75 million Americans and over 1 billion people worldwide. Currently, it is estimated that 1–2% of patients with hypertension will have a hypertensive emergency during their life.  Defined by the presence of acute end-organ dysfunction, hypertensive emergencies are high risk, associated with in-hospital and 30-day death rates of 2–3% and 11%, respectively, and a 90-day re-admission rate of nearly 40%. Rapid recognition, evaluation and treatment of hypertensive emergencies are necessary to prevent permanent or progressive end-organ damage (EOD). [Actualizado: 25 de abril 2013]