[Variation in nocturnal blood pressure behavior in stage III (WHO) hypertension--a case report]

In some cases of hypertensive men the authors obtained 24-hour blood pressure profiles by easy non-invasive technique (Mercury manometer) and under the usual atmosphere and activities of a hospital. The control Group, 32 normotensive men, showed a normal circadian blood pressure variability with systolic acrophases at 10.00 h and 16.00 h and a bathyphase around 3.00 h. The diastolic blood pressure had a smaller variability. One patient with essential hypertension stage II (WHO), case 1, kept the normal day-night rhythm. By case 2, a man with essential hypertension stage III (WHO), the authors refer to the possibility of considerable differences of blood pressure behaviour during the night in cases of severe hypertension in contrary to normal blood pressure variability. After a supplementary fourth medication this patient showed a significant decrease of blood pressure during the night. Nevertheless he kept his acrophase at night. The recording of day-night profiles of blood pressure seems to be useful in relation to the judgement of classification of severity, of the mode of anti-hypertensive medication and of the success in therapy.