Pseudohypertension

Q: Blood Pressure (BP) measurement via cuff on the brachial artery may show BP ______________ than the actual BP? - select one

A) higher

B) lower

Answer: A

In older and many other patients, smaller vessels like the brachial artery are usually more calcified, and compression may require a cuff pressure greater than actual systolic in patients; it may be about 10 mmHg or more on sphygmomanometer (both systolic and diastolic) if directly measured via intra-arterial or oscillometric pressure.

This is called Pseudohypertension.

#hemodynamic

References:

1. Zweifler AJ, Shahab ST. Pseudohypertension: a new assessment. J Hypertens 1993; 11:1.

2. Kleman M, Dhanyamraju S, DiFilippo W. Prevalence and characteristics of pseudohypertension in patients with "resistant hypertension". J Am Soc Hypertens. 2013 Nov-Dec;7(6):467-70. doi: 10.1016/j.jash.2013.05.006. Epub 2013 Jul 10. PMID: 23849622.

3. Oster JR, Materson BJ. Pseudohypertension: a diagnostic dilemma. J Clin Hypertens. 1986 Dec;2(4):307-13. PMID: 3543228.