Hypertension

An 85-year-old man with a history of hypertension, coronary artery disease, and diabetes mellitus presented with syncope. He had fallen down a flight of stairs and now complained of left shoulder pain

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is expected to continue to increase rapidly, and it is not surprising that the issue of the potential effects of different classes of antihypertensive drugs on glucose metabolism and glycemic control has sparked debate.

56-year-old man with a history of diabetes mellitus and hypertension presents with chest pain, emesis, pallor, and diaphoresis.

A 54-year-old man with chronic renal insufficiency presented with shortness of breath, nonproductive cough, and chest pain. The patient had hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and a 30-pack-year history of cigarette smoking. He denied alcohol or illicit drug use and prolonged exposure to asbestos, chemicals, or fumes.

A 57-year-old woman complains of burning and dryness in her left eye and altered sensation in her mouth when eating; these symptoms began the day before. A coworker who had noticed facial asymmetry recommended that she seek medical attention.

Up to 10% of Americans older than 20 years have type 2 diabetes, and more than 20% have the metabolic syndrome. The prevalence of both diseases has risen by 33% over the past decade as a result of an increasingly sedentary lifestyle, the obesity epidemic, the growth of ethnic groups at risk for the disease, and the aging of the population.

For 2 days, a 68-year-old woman had watery, yellowish diarrhea with mucus and left lower quadrant pain. Her medical history included hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and congestive heart failure (CHF); she had left the hospital 5 days earlier following treatment of an exacerbation of CHF with intravenous furosemide and sodium and fluid restriction. The patient was taking furosemide, lisinopril, and glipizide; she denied any recent antibiotic therapy.

For 2 days, a 68-year-old woman had watery, yellowish diarrhea with mucus and left lower quadrant pain. Her medical history included hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and congestive heart failure (CHF); she had left the hospital 5 days earlier following treatment of an exacerbation of CHF with intravenous furosemide and sodium and fluid restriction. The patient was taking furosemide, lisinopril, and glipizide; she denied any recent antibiotic therapy.

A 49-year-old man presented to the emergency department with hematemesis and 2 episodes of melena. Examination findings included resting tachycardia and melenic stool. Blood pressure was 95/50 mm Hg. Multiple raised, soft, bluish 0.3 to 1 cm lesions were noted on the trunk and extremities.

As many as half of patients who are evaluated for abdominal pain do not receive a precise diagnosis. And for about half of those who are given a diagnosis, the diagnosis is wrong. In this article, I will use actual cases (not "textbook" examples) to illustrate an approach to abdominal pain that begins with a careful differential diagnosis. I also offer some general guidelines for evaluating patients.

An 81-year-old man is seen for follow-up of leukocytosis detected during a recent hospitalization for community-acquired pneumonia. The leukocytosis had not resolved by the time he was discharged.

A systematic approach to the patient with resistant hypertension is both cost-effective and rewarding because the evaluation will probably reveal the cause. Initial considerations include lack of adherence, inappropriate treatment, drug-drug interactions, volume overload, and white-coat hypertension.

A 66-year-old woman with a history of coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and end-stage renal disease presents to the emergency department 1 week after a coronary artery stent was placed to treat ischemic heart disease.

Each year, about 27 million Americans undergo anesthesia followed by surgery. Roughly 50,000 of these patients have a stress-induced myocardial infarction during the perioperative period.

The metabolic syndrome represents a clustering of conditions and/or risk factors that lead to an increased incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. These conditions include abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, insulin resistance, and a proinflammatory state.

In their "What's The 'Take Home'?" case of a pregnant woman with hypertension, Drs Lawrence Kaplan and Ronald Rubin inquire into the most likely cause of the patient's elevated blood pressure. However, this information is not sufficient to make a definitive diagnosis.

An 83-year-old man with a history of hypertension and coronary artery disease presented with a 4-day history of mental status changes, slurred speech, and difficulty ambulating. He reported a lack of appetite and weakness of several days.

A serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level three times higher than normal, found on routine laboratory examination, prompted further evaluation of a 57-year-old man. At admission, his temperature was 36.8°C (98.2°F), blood pressure was 120/85 mm Hg, pulse rate was 90 beats per minute, and respiration rate was 19 breaths per minute. The physical examination was unrevealing, and the patient's personal and family medical histories were unremarkable.

A 62-year-old African American woman was brought to the emergency department (ED) after the sudden onset of slurred speech and weakness in her left arm and leg. Her medical history included hypertension, insulin-dependent diabetes, and congestive heart failure.

Frequent urinary tract infections and unexplained hypertension (160/100 mm Hg) occurred in a 38-year-old man with no significant medical history. The heart and chest were normal; a right lower quadrant mass was detected in the abdomen. Red blood cells were found in the urine. An abdominal CT scan demonstrated that the left kidney was fused to the lower pole of the right kidney with the left pelvicaliceal system to the left of the midline; these findings are consistent with crossed fused renal ectopia. Cystographic and cystoscopic examinations were normal.

A 35-year-old man, a smoker, had right pleuritic pain, productive cough, and fever for 3 days. His pulse rate was 107 beats per minute; respiratory rate, 14 breaths per minute; blood pressure, 136/80 mm Hg; and temperature, 37.7°C (99.9°F). There were signs of right upper lobe consolidation. Laboratory studies showed hyponatremia. Chest films showed a homogeneous density in the right upper lobe.

A 41-year-old man complaining of left-sided chest pain for 2 hours was examined in the emergency department (ED). On arrival, his blood pressure was 160/100 mm Hg; heart rate, 90 beats per minute; respiratory rate, 18 breaths per minute; oxygen saturation, 99%; and temperature, 37.2°C (99°F).

Police brought a delirious, combative 24-year-old man to the emergency department. The patient was unable to provide any history on arrival, but his scarred, blistering lips and his vital signs (blood pressure, 166/102 mm Hg; heart rate, 97 beats per minute; respiratory rate, 24 breaths per minute; and temperature, 38.2°C, or 100.9°F) led to a possible diagnosis of cocaine-induced delirium.

An 80-year-old woman presented with recurrent abdominal pain for 1 month, constipation, and vomiting. She had no diarrhea, rectal bleeding, or weight loss.

A 49-year-old woman with a history of alcoholic cirrhosis, esophageal varices, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension presented to the emergency department with a 2-day history of fever, chills, nausea, and back and abdominal pain. The pain began on the right side, progressed to the lower back, and radiated into the right anterior thigh and groin area.

Presenting symptoms of this 42-year-old man were left pleuritic pain and severe dyspnea while climbing stairs. He had a 2-year history of exertional dyspnea but had not sought medical advice. The patient's pulse was 123 beats per minute; respiratory rate, 45 breaths per minute; blood pressure, 80/45 mm Hg; and temperature, 37.3°C (99.1°F). Chest examination revealed hyperresonance with absence of breath sounds over the left hemithorax and wheezing over the right lung.

Levofloxacin, 500 mg/d, had been prescribed for a 74-year-old woman who had a urinary tract infection. The patient had type 2 diabetes and hypertension. She was allergic to sulfa drugs.

A 73-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with pain in his hands, feet, and elbows. The patient, an alcoholic, had a 20-year history of hypertension and diabetes. Deformities of the hands and feet had developed during the past 5 years. Tophi were present over both ear lobes. The serum uric acid level was 15 mg/dL.

A 65-year-old woman with a long history of hypertension treated with metoprolol and felodipine complained of dizziness, headache, nausea, and vomiting of acute onset. Her blood pressure was 220/110 mm Hg. She was drowsy and unable to stand or walk.

A 64-year-old woman with a history of diabetes, hypertension, and lymphoma was admitted to the hospital with a dull headache, conjunctival congestion, and slight dyspnea. Her pulse rate was 96 beats per minute; blood pressure, 146/68 mm Hg; and respiration rate, 22 breaths per minute. She also had increased jugular venous distention; cardiovascular and chest examination findings were normal. Edema of both arms and dilated blood vessels on the anterior chest wall were noted.