Vol. 10, Issue 11, Part C (2024)

Poorly controlled hypertension (HTN) affects a number of systems, including the retina, cardiovascular, renal, and cerebrovascular. The damage done to these systems is referred to as target-organ damage (TOD). HTN causes three distinct types of visual impairment: choroidopathy, retinopathy, and optic neuropathy.

This activity reviews the pathophysiology and cause of hypertensive retinopathy and highlights the importance of the interprofessional team in treating the condition.

Identify the different stages of the hypertensive retinopathy.

Look at the presentation of hypertensive retinopathy.

Analyze the presentation of hypertensive retinopathy.

Describe the different approaches to the management and treatment of hypertensive retinopathy.

Describe inter professional team strategies for improving patient outcomes and hypertensive retinopathy patients' care coordination.

In addition to primary and secondary hypertension, several other conditions can also contribute to the development of hypertensive retinopathy. Afro-Caribbean individuals are more likely than European individuals to suffer from hypertensive retinopathy, as do women relative to men.

Furthermore, as some genotypes are associated with an increased risk of hypertensive retinopathy, genetics may also play a role. A study by Pontremoli et al. on the genetic factors associated with hypertensive retinopathy found that angiotensin-converting enzyme allele deletion is associated with an increased risk of hypertensive retinopathy.

Poulter et al.'s research suggests that smoking is significantly associated with malignant or severe hypertensive retinopathy. It has been shown that patients with low creatinine clearance and chronic microalbuminuria are at risk for end-organ damage and hypertensive retinopathy. Uckaya et al. found a relationship with plasma leptin. Higher plasma leptin levels in patients with hypertensive retinopathy led to the theory that damage to the vascular endothelium is a cause of this condition.