Malignant Hypertension

A 37-year-old man arrives in the emergency department complaining of severe, excruciating headache refractory to over-the-counter treatment. His blood pressure is 250/150 mm Hg, and bilateral papilledema is evident on ophthalmoscopic examination of the retina. Despite all interventions, the patient dies. At autopsy, which of the following is a likely finding?
  • A. Immune complex vasculitis of the glomeruli
  • B. Longitudinal intraluminal tears of the ascending aorta
  • C. Multiple punctuate hemorrhages on the surface of both kidneys (“flea-bitten kidneys”)
  • D. “Tree-bark” appearance of the ascending aorta
  • E. Unilateral renal artery stenosis


17. The answer is C. This describes the clinical manifestations of malignant hypertension. This is an accelerated phase of hypertension that occurs for unknown reasons, and it can be in patients with primary or secondary causes of hypertension. Gross findings of the kidneys include petechial hemorrhages, giving the parenchyma a “flea-bitten” appearance. Microscopically, there would be fibrinoid necrosis of the blood vessel walls and hyperplastic arteriolosclerosis. Immune complex vasculitis of the glomeruli is typical of polyarteritis nodosa. Longitudinal intraluminal tears of the ascending aorta is describing a dissection, these patients typically present with “tearing” chest pain. “Tree-bark” appearance of the ascending aorta is a classic description of the ascending aorta in tertiary syphilis. Unilateral renal artery stenosis can occur via atherosclerosis, fibromuscular dysplasia, or other more rare entities. 

 

Diseases and Disorders

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