Hypertensive crisis in children and adolescents: aspects of intensive therapy

Abstract

In pediatric intensive care practice, a hypertensive crisis (HC) is an acute and urgent condition with a high risk of damage to target organs and organ failure, requiring emergency treatment aimed at decreasing arterial blood pressure (BP) and minimizing the risk of complications. HC is subdivided into uncomplicated (acute), in which no signs of organ damage are present, and complicated (urgent), with acute organ damage (neurological, renal or cardiac dysfunction). The main triggers of HC are concomitant endocrine disorders, renal impairment, and use of certain medications. The clinical signs of HC are diverse and non-specific, and depend on the age of the child and on the type of HC. Intensive care to children with HC is provided in intensive care units and is aimed primarily at gradually decreasing the patient’s BP (by 25% during the first 6–8 hours). In complicated HC, antihypertensive drugs are administered parenterally, whereas patients with uncomplicated HC may receive the drugs in enteral or sublingual form. The main drugs for intensive therapy of HC in children and adolescents are calcium channel blockers, vasodilators, α- and β-blockers, ACE inhibitors, centrally acting agents etc. Each group of antihypertensive drugs has its own peculiarities of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and dose selection, and its own range of adverse effects and contraindications. Timely recognition and competent intensive treatment of children and adolescents with HC will reduce the risk of complications and improve the therapeutic prognosis of this urgent condition.