[Resistant hypertension despite nine different antihypertensive drugs?].

Abstract

Background: Treatment-resistant hypertension is a common problem in an outpatient setting and often results in hospital admission. Non-identified secondary hypertension, hypertensive nephrosclerosis and non-compliance are major reasons for treatment resistance.

Case report: A 75-year old woman was admitted to the emergency room because of a hypertensive crisis with alleged treatment-resistant hypertension and progressive headache. Two months ago, renal artery stenosis had been ruled out and a diagnosis of hypertensive cardiomyopathy was established. On admission, the patient had a blood pressure of 210/100 mmHg despite an antihypertensive treatment with nine different drugs. Further investigations ruled out secondary hypertension due to an endocrine cause but were consistent with hypertensive nephrosclerosis. With a supervised drug intake the blood pressure was rather normal to hypotensive, resulting in the need for significant reduction of the antihypertensive medication. The apparent discrepancies were discussed in detail with the patient who finally admitted a previous inconsistent intake of the antihypertensive drugs. Following thorough training and education on the purpose of continued antihypertensive therapy, the patient could be discharged with a normotensive blood pressure profile.

Conclusions: Therapy of treatment-resistant hypertension should always consider non-compliance and secondary hypertension as possible reason.