SUMMARY
Objetive:
To evaluate the prevalence of retinopathy in hypertensive crisis and its relationship with type of crisis and levei of blood pressure.
Methodology:
ln this prospective study, 111 patients were examined by direct ophthalmoscopy, between june 1994 and june 1996. Using Keith-Wagener-Barker classification, ocular fundus were graded to determine the presence of retinopathy.
Results:
Among 111 patients, retinopathy was found in 91 (82%). 88 (79.3%) were hipertensive urgencies, 23 (20.7%) were hypertensive emergencies. Hospital admission for hypertensive emergency was associated with increased severity of retinopathy (p<0.001 ). There were not relation between retinopathy and blood pressure (p>0.05).
Conclusions:
These data suggest that retinopathy is common in people with hypertensive crisis. Fundoscopy did not predict the levei of blood pressure. Hospital admission for hypertensive emergency was associated with more severe forms of retinopathy.
Key words:
Arterial hypertension; Hypertensive retinopathy; Oftalmoscopy