Should Neurogenic Supine Hypertension Be Treated? Insights from Hypertension-Mediated Organ Damage Studies—A Narrative Review

Neurodegenerative synucleinopathies—including Parkinson’s disease, multiple system atrophy, pure autonomic failure, and dementia with Lewy bodies—often feature cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction. Neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (nOH) is common and symptomatic, while neurogenic supine hypertension (nSH) is less frequent but may carry long-term cardiovascular risks. Lifestyle measures are first-line for managing nSH, yet persistent hypertension unresponsive to nonpharmacological strategies presents a treatment dilemma. Limited trial data and unclear guidelines make it difficult to determine when antihypertensive therapy is appropriate. Evidence from studies on hypertension-mediated organ damage (HMOD)—assessed through markers such as carotid intima-media thickness, pulse wave velocity, left ventricular hypertrophy, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and white matter hyperintensities—suggests that nSH, rather than the underlying neurodegenerative disorder, drives vascular, cardiac, renal, and cerebral injury. Therefore, treatment decisions should be individualized. While antihypertensive therapy may help prevent subclinical organ damage, clinicians must balance this benefit against the risk of worsening nOH and further compromising overall prognosis.