Abstract

CONTRERAS, Freddy et al. Valoración del Paciente Hipertenso. RFM [online]. 2000, vol.23, n.1, pp.11-18. ISSN 0798-0469.

Arterial hypertension (AH) is a worldwide public health concern. This paper includes the complete assessment process of the hypertensive patient tending to the early diagnosis of this condition and aiming to detect symptom less subjects, as well as the importance of recording a case history directed towards the revision of all the factors to be considered, the conditions and associated risk factors, together with the appropriate physical examination and the ambulatory recording of the blood pressure. The hypertension classification criteria are included and laboratory studies required for the diagnosis of this pathology are considered. There are also included the causes of secondary arterial hypertension such as kidney vascular alterations, chronic renal failure, primary aldosteronism, pheochromocytoma and hypertension associated to drugs. It is described the clinical presentation for these causes and the most appropriate laboratory studies required to confirm the etiology.