Hypertensive urgency

Hypertensive urgency is a term used to denote that hypertension is severe enough to cause symptoms, but not so severe that it affects intracranial pressure. Someone whose systolic blood pressure is greater than 240 and/or diastolic blood pressure is greater than 120 is a candidate. Having these numbers alone and no signs of end-organ damage, is called accelerated hypertension. When end-organ damage is present, but no signs of increased intracranial pressure, it is called hypertensive urgency. Hypertension under this circumstance needs to be controlled, but hospitalization is not required. When hypertension causes increased intracranial pressure, it is called malignant hypertension. Increased intracranial pressure causes papilledema, which is visible on ophthalmoscopic examination of the retina.