clinical features
Last reviewed 01/2018
The clinical features of hypertensive encephalopathy can be divided up on a temporal basis. Their onset is usually rapid, but not instantaneous:
Early features include:
- headache
- nausea and vomiting
- confusion
- retinal haemorrhages, exudates or papilloedema
- impairment of vision or blindness
Late features include:
- focal neurological signs
- fits
- coma
- proteinuria and evidence of renal and cardiac failure according to underlying cause
- rarely fever and cervical rigidity