C3. A case of extreme discrepancy between office and ambulatory blood pressure: is it true uncontrolled hypertension?

Abstract

Background White coat uncontrolled hypertension (WCUH), defined as drug-treated hypertension but with increased blood pressure in the office and normal ambulatory blood pressure, should be assessed in patients with uncontrolled hypertension to prevent overtreatment. We report a case of an extreme WCUH found by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). Case Summary A 66-year-old woman was a regular patient in Cardiology Outpatient Clinic, Indonesian Army Central Hospital Gatot Soebroto with uncontrolled hypertension, CAD post-PCI, and insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes mellitus. The patient was overweight (BMI was 24.56 kg/m2) with dyslipidemia and uncontrolled blood glucose. Despite aggressive treatment with ARB, CCB, beta-blockers, diuretic, and clonidine, the patient had persistent hypertension with mean office systolic blood pressure >160/90 mmHg. Echocardiography showed concentric left ventricular hypertrophy. ABPM result found extreme variability of blood pressure with the average 24-hour blood pressure of 93.6/59 mmHg (mean daytime blood pressure was 90/55 mmHg and mean night-time blood pressure was 98.7/65.2 mmHg), intermittent hypotension, and reverse dipper pattern. The blood pressure once dropped to the lowest point of 69/44 mmHg, and the highest was 211/186 mmHg. Based on this result, we classified the patient’s condition as WCUH and adjusted the antihypertensive regiment. Discussion This case emphasizes the need to evaluate the presence of WCUH by ABPM in patients with uncontrolled hypertension so antihypertensive drugs could be adjusted accordingly and prevent hypotension.