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Which of the following is true of hypertensive urgency?

It causes end organ damage

It features elevated mean arterial pressure

In the context of hypertensive urgency, the essential characteristic is the significant elevation of blood pressure, which is reflected in an elevated mean arterial pressure. Hypertensive urgency is typically defined by a blood pressure reading of 180/120 mmHg or higher without the acute end-organ damage that occurs in hypertensive emergencies.

The key here is that while patients may present with severely increased blood pressure, the absence of acute damage to organs such as the heart, kidneys, or brain distinguishes urgency from emergency situations. Therefore, the focus is on the blood pressure levels themselves and the mean arterial pressure being at a heightened level.

Understanding this distinction is crucial, as treatment for hypertensive urgency focuses on gradual blood pressure reduction over a span of hours to days, rather than immediate intervention as would be required in cases where end-organ damage is present.

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It features a rapidly elevating blood pressure

It features a blood pressure equal to or greater than 180/120

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