Contributing factors in resistant hypertension

Systematic evaluation of each patient with refractory hypertension is necessary to identify conditions or altered mechanisms of hypertension that are amenable to targeted therapy. Issues that should be carefully investigated are appropriateness of the regimen, possible drug interactions, patient compliance, associated conditions (alcohol or recreational drug use, hyperinsulinemia), pseudohypertension, office hypertension, and volume overload. When these problems are eliminated, causes of secondary hypertension should be sought, the most common being coarctation of the aorta, Cushing's syndrome, primary aldosteronism, pheochromocytoma, renovascular disease, thyroid and parathyroid disease, and renal parenchymal disease. In a few cases, a careful hemodynamic and neurohumoral assessment is needed to direct treatment. When the recommended stepwise workup is followed, hypertension that is truly refractory to treatment is a rare finding.