[A study on malignant arterial hypertension: about 168 cases at the unit of nephrology-internal medecine of the University Hospital Center, Treichville, Abidjan].

Introduction: malignant arterial hypertension (MAH) is a nosologic disorder which has not been described in Nephrology. The purpose of this study was to describe the profile of patients with MAH in the Division of Nephrology and to identify prognostic factors.
Methods: we conducted a retrospective, descriptive and analytical study from January 2013 to December 2018 in the Unit of Nephrology of the University Hospital Center in Treichville. The diagnosis of MAH was retained in patients with diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥ 130 mmHg, Keith Wegener grade III/IV hypertensive retinopathy, one or multiple visceral, cardiac and/or brain and/or renal diseases.
Results: we collected data from 168 patients. The average age of patients was 41.10 ± 14.86 years, with male predominance (sex ratio 1.54). Cardiovascular risk factors were AH (79.20%), alcohol (32.10%), tobacco (19.60%), chronic kidney disease (15.30%) and diabetes (11.30%). They were admitted with dyspnea (39.29%), hypertensive crisis (26.16%), consciousness disorders (10.12%). Clinical examination showed anemia (82.10%), lower limb edema (63.10%), acute pulmonary edema (37.50%). Arterial hypertension resulted in renal failure (95,9%), left ventricular hypertrophy (92.81%), stroke (16,67%), and cardiac and renal involvement (85%). Renal failure was chronic in 78% of cases. The causes of MAH were essential AH (56,8%), chronic glomerulonephritis (29.8%), and diabetes (6%). Outcome was favorable in 66,7% of cases and overall mortality rate was 25.6%. In multivariate analysis uremia ≥ 2g/l [OR=5,07; 95%CI = 2,39-10.75; p = 0.0001], hperkalaemia [OR = 3.50; 95% CI = 1.70 - 7.19; p = 0.001], hyponatremia [OR = 2.90; 95% CI= 1.40 - 6.03; p = 0.004], haemoglobin level < 12g/dl [OR=5,91; 95% CI=1,34-26,00; p=0,019] and end-stage renal disease [OR = 6.06; 95% CI = 2.04 - 18.18; p = 0.001] were factors associated with the occurrence of death.
Conclusion: MAH is a consequence of poorly treated or untreated AH. It mainly affects young adults with multivisceral complications. In our Hospital, these were dominated by end-stage chronic renal disease. Hence the importance of early diagnosis and adequate management in patients with AH.
Competing Interests: Les auteurs ne déclarent aucun conflit d'intérêts.
(Copyright: Jean Astrid Aka et al.)