In this quick, easy-to-understand lesson, we learn about secondary hypertension for USMLE and medicine. Secondary hypertension is defined as high blood pressure (>140/90 or >130/80) caused by an underlying disease, medical condition, or drugs. While primary hypertension comprises of the majority of hypertension cases (90%), only 10% of patient cases is secondary hypertension.

Primary Hypertension vs Secondary Hypertension: What is primary hypertension? Read our first primary essential Hypertension USMLE lesson here to learn about the differences between primary hypertension and secondary hypertension.

There are many different causes of secondary hypertension, including chronic kidney disease, obstructive sleep apnea, NSAIDS drugs, among many.

Determinants of Blood Pressure

Health Effects of High Blood Pressure

Blood Pressure = Cardiac Output x Total Peripheral Resistance

BP = CO x TPR

Bloor pressure can increase by either increased cardiac output (CO) or increased total peripheral resistance (TPR).

Cardiac Output on Blood Pressure

An example of increased cardiac output causing high blood pressure is increased renal salt and water retention. When more salt and water is retained in your body, cardiac output increases.

Total Peripheral Resistance

Remember that arterioles are the blood vessels with the highest resistance. Therefore, arterioles play a major role in affecting total peripheral resistance. When arterioles are constricted by vasoconstrictors (catecholamines), TPR increases. The sympathetic nervous system can also increase TPR.

TPR: arterioles (Increase by vasoconstrictors or Increase by sympathetic nervous system)

Chronic Kidney Disease

Over 80% of patients with chronic kidney disease have hypertension. Why? In chronic kidney disease, kidneys are not working well and specifically cannot excrete sodium well. Thus, there is higher sodium retention. Chronic kidney disease can also cause increased renin-angiotensin-aldosterone activity and sympathetic nervous system activity, which both can increase hypertension.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Sympathetic nervous system is ramped up because of sleep apnea, leading to hypertension.

NSAIDS on Hypertension

Drugs that cause secondary hypertension. NSAIDS: like ibuprofen, anproxen, indomethacin, ketorolac, diclofenac. NSAIDS are known as Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. NSAIDS inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX) in kidneys. Cycloxygenase is an enzyme that converts arachidonic acid into prostaglandins. When cyclooxygenase is inhibited by NSAIDS, there is decreased synthesis of prostaglandins. PGE-2 plays a specific role in renal vasodilation in afferent arterioles. , so decreased PGE-2 can lead to hypertension. PGE-2 Afferent arteriole vasoconstricts, reducing renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate, deceasing sodium/water excretion, and leading to hypertension.

NSAIDS –| (inhibit) Cyclooxygenase –> PGE-2

Decreased PGE-2 –> Vasoconstriction in afferent arteriole –> Decreased renal blood flow + Decreased Glomerular Filtration Rate –> Hypertension

Oral Contraceptive Pills that cause secondary hypertension

Estrogen and progesterone increase blood pressure

Hypertension: Causes and Health Effects of High Blood Pressure

Pseudoephedrine can cause Secondary Hypertension

Pseudoephedrine is a nasal decongestant and alpha-1 agonist. Its molecular structure is similar to epinephrine. Epinephrine constricts blood vessels in the nasal passage. Likewise, pseudoephedrine constricts blood vessels in the nasal passage. Vasoconstriction –> leads to decreased nasal blood flow.

Some of you may be thinking, “Wait, doesn’t epinephrine cause vasodilation?” Well, you’re not wrong. Epinephrine causes both vasodilation and vasoconstriction. Specifically, vasodilation for skeletal muscle via B2 receptor, and vasoconstriction in skin and kidneys and the nasal passage via Alpha-1 receptor!

Cyclosporine and Tacrolimus

Immunosuppressants

Calcineurin inhibitors and cause renal vasoconstriction because of salt/water retention. The best drug to treat hypertension yet still treats the same conditions is diltiazem, which treats hypertension and still has equally good efficacy for lower dose cyclosporine.

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