Korean J Med.  2013 Mar;84(3):414-417. 10.3904/kjm.2013.84.3.414.

A Case of Transient Hypertension after Blunt Abdominal Trauma

• Min JY
• Min SY
• Byun YJ
• Jeong JH
• Lee Y
• Kim BK
• Shin JH

• KMID: 1833853
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjm.2013.84.3.414

Abstract

Arterial hypertension following blunt abdominal trauma is a rare complication that can be induced by compression of the renal parenchyma due to a perirenal or subcapsular hematoma or adrenal hemorrhage. A 63-year-old woman was admitted after blunt abdominal trauma. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed a right renal subcapsular hematoma and right adrenal gland hematoma. The patient developed hypertension during conservative treatment. Pheochromocytoma, renovascular hypertension, adrenal adenoma, thyroid disease, and other causes of secondary hypertension were excluded. On following the patient, her blood pressure normalized spontaneously without prescribing any antihypertensive medications. The renal subcapsular hematoma and adrenal hemorrhage regressed progressively as the blood pressure normalized. We report this case to make physicians aware that transient hypertension can develop in patients with blunt abdominal trauma, and to prevent the use of unnecessary antihypertensive medications.

Keyword

Abdominal injuries; Hypertension; Hematoma

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Injuries
Adrenal Glands
Blood Pressure
Female
Hematoma
Hemorrhage
Humans
Hypertension
Hypertension, Renovascular
Pheochromocytoma
Thyroid Neoplasms