Hypertension in the Elderly
Pathophysiological Comparison between Subjects with Sustained Hypertension and with Transient Hypertension on Admission
1985 Volume 22 Issue 2 Pages 167-171
Details
1985 Volume 22 Issue 2 Pages 167-171
Twenty three patients aged above 60 years who had been noticed hypertensive (systolic BP>160mmHg, diastolic BP>105mmHg) on admission were subjected in this study. In 13 patients of the subjects the blood pressure (BP) spontaneously lowered to normal range by 2 weeks after admission (NBP group), and the BP of another 10 patients still remained hypertensive at that time (HBP group). Assessments of the physical findings and hypertensive complications, and blood chemical and endocrinological examinations were made to compare the Pathophysiological conditions between the 2 groups.
The mean age of the HBP group was slightly younger (p<0.05) than that of the NBP group. There were no differences in the obesity index and the general condition between the 2 groups. With regard to complications, complicating frequencies of diabetes mellitus, cerebrovascular troubles and hypertensive involvements of retina were somewhat greater in the HBP group compared with those in the NBP group, while there were no differences in terms of ECG change and the degree of cardiomegaly between the 2 groups. There were no apparent differences in the serum electrolyte levels, lipid levels and renal function between the 2 groups. In endocrinological examinations, the plasma renin activity and serum prolactin level tended to be increased in HBP group, and the plasma aldosterone concentration was significantly (p<0.05) greater than that in NBP group. There were no differences in the urinary catecholamine levels between the 2 groups.
From these results, no apparent differences were observed in the blood pressure on admission and laboratory and physical examinations run in this study between the 2 groups except the points that the reninangiotensin system was slightly increased and complicating rates of retinal involvements and cerebrovascular troubles tended to be high in the HBP group compared with the NBP group. While there have to be many differences in pathophysiological condition and treatment between the 2 groups, it is considered to be difficult at the present time to differentiate one from the other in the 2 groups with means other than the observation of the transition of blood pressure.
