Consider any of the following based on the patient's clinical presentation
CBC with peripheral smear- assess for microangiopathic hemolytic anemia
Chem 8 - assess renal failure and possible secondary causes
Cardiac enzymes
Urinalysis - Assess renal failure, glomerulonephritis, preeclampsia
ECG - LVH, ischemia
Ultrasound - evaluate for aortic dissection, bladder outlet obstruction, or depressed myocardial function
Fundoscopic Exam - evaluate for hypertensive retinopathy or papilledema
CXR - evaluate for pulmonary edema or dissection
CT head - in hypertensive encephalopathy, may not show acute hemorrhage or other acute pathology
Hypertensive encephalopathy is thought to be secondary to alteration in cerebral auto-regulation leading to posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (now called reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy). Most patients will show changes on MRI, although this is not necessarily indicated in the<unk>  department.
Hypertensive encephalopathy is thought to be secondary to alteration in cerebral auto-regulation leading to posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (now called reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy). Most patients will show changes on MRI, although this is not necessarily indicated in the<unk>  department.
Must have evidence of end-organ dysfunction
High blood pressure without symptoms is NOT<unk>  (see asymptomatic hypertension)
Symptoms such as headache, epistaxis and dizziness are not evidence of acute end-organ damage and they are not indication for acute BP reduction
High blood pressure without symptoms is NOT<unk>  (see asymptomatic hypertension)
Symptoms such as headache, epistaxis and dizziness are not evidence of acute end-organ damage and they are not indication for acute BP reduction
Hypertensive emergency
Hypertensive urgency
Stroke
Subarachnoid hemorrhage
Sympathetic crashing acute pulmonary edema
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension
Ischemic stroke
Traumatic hyphema