Pheochromocytoma
ICD-10 E27.5 · ICD-11 5A75

Treatment of Hypertensive Emergency or Urgency Due to Catecholamine Excess in Secreting Metastatic Pheochromocytoma / Paraganglioma

Clinical Scenario

This protocol addresses patients with a secreting metastatic pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma who develop hypertensive emergency or urgency as a direct consequence of catecholamine excess. The cardiovascular burden in this setting is driven by the hormonal activity of the tumour.

Condition Context

The hormonal manifestations of metastatic pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma are predominantly cardiovascular. Hypertensive emergency or urgency is among the recognised acute presentations alongside other serious catecholamine-mediated events.

Treatment Approach (Partial Overview)

Acute management relies on intravenous antihypertensive agents appropriate for the catecholamine-excess state, with additional agents considered as the clinical picture requires.

The complete agent selection, clinical decision algorithm, and sequencing are detailed in the full structured protocol below.

Instant Access to Structured Evidence-Based Regimens

References

DOI: 10.1097/MPA.0000000000001792

The hormonal manifestations of mPPGL are mainly cardiovascular and include catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy (takotsubo), myocardial infarction, hypertensive emergency or urgency, shock, syncope, arrhythmia, dissecting aortic aneurysm, acute kidney injury, and hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke.

Intravenous agents if needed include nicardipine, phentolamine, magnesium sulfate, and nitroprusside with addition of a β-blocker as needed.

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