Management of resistant hypertension: expert consensus statement from the French Society of Hypertension, an affiliate of the French Society of Cardiology

J Hum Hypertens. 2016 Nov;30(11):657-663. doi: 10.1038/jhh.2015.122. Epub 2016 Jan 28.

Abstract

To improve the management of resistant hypertension, the French Society of Hypertension, an affiliate of the French Society of Cardiology, has published a set of eleven recommendations. The primary objective is to provide the most up-to-date information based on the strongest scientific rationale and that is easily applicable to daily clinical practice. Resistant hypertension is defined as uncontrolled blood pressure on office measurements and confirmed by out-of-office measurements despite a therapeutic strategy comprising appropriate lifestyle and dietary measures and the concurrent use of three antihypertensive agents including a thiazide diuretic, a renin-angiotensin system blocker (ARB or ACEI) and a calcium channel blocker, for at least 4 weeks, at optimal doses. Treatment compliance must be closely monitored, as must factors that are likely to affect treatment resistance (excessive dietary salt intake, alcohol, depression, drug interactions and vasopressor drugs). If the diagnosis of resistant hypertension is confirmed, the patient should be referred to a hypertension specialist to screen for potential target organ damage and secondary causes of hypertension. The recommended treatment regimen is a combination therapy comprising four treatment classes, including spironolactone (12.5-25 mg per day). In the event of a contraindication or a non-response to spironolactone, or if adverse effects occur, a β-blocker, an α-blocker, or a centrally acting antihypertensive drug should be prescribed. Because renal denervation is still undergoing assessment for the treatment of hypertension, this technique should only be prescribed by a specialist hypertension clinic.

Publication types

  • Practice Guideline
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antihypertensive Agents / adverse effects
  • Antihypertensive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects*
  • Cardiology / standards*
  • Consensus
  • Drug Resistance*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Evidence-Based Medicine / standards
  • France
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / diagnosis
  • Hypertension / drug therapy*
  • Hypertension / epidemiology
  • Hypertension / physiopathology
  • Risk Factors
  • Risk Reduction Behavior
  • Societies, Medical / standards*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antihypertensive Agents