Sublingual Nifedipine in Acute Hypertensive Crisis

INTRODUCTION: Hypertensive crisis is. a curable form of otherwise highly lethal cardiovascular emergency.  The accelerated increments in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure result in vascular changes known as fibrinoid necrosis. Brain, kidney and heart bears the main brunt. The changes are reversible if B.P. is lowered in time and rapidly. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight patients presenting to the emergency room of National Institute of Cardiovascu1ar Diseases, Karachi, Since 14th April, 1982 with diagnosis of Hypertensive crisis were included in this study. DISCUSSION: Hypertensive crisis variously called hypertensive emergencies or hypertensive encephalopathy is a life threatening situation resulting from rapid and marked elevation of diastolic arterial pressure (1,2). Guazzi et al in 1977 described 3 patients with hypertensive encephalopathy having B.P. of 307/190. The B.P. came down to 160/85-90 within 15-20 minutes of sublingual 10-20 nifidipine. Our experience further document that sublingual nifedipine . Effectively and promptly lowers elevated B.?. in hypertensive crisis and should he preferred to the costly cumbersome 1/V regimens used in hypertensive crisis.