Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Wide pulse pressure
Introduction
Overview
Overview
A wide pulse pressure is defined as a difference between the systolic blood pressure and the diastolic blood pressure that exceeds 60 – 70 mm Hg.
Causes
Causes
Life Threatening Causes
Life-threatening causes include conditions which may result in death or permanent disability within 24 hours if left untreated.
Common Causes
- Anemia
- Anxiety
- Aortic dissection
- Aortic regurgitation
- Arteriovenous fistula
- Atherosclerosis
- Complete heart block
- Endocarditis
- Fever
- Isolated systolic hypertension
- Patent ductus arteriosus
- Raised intracranial pressure
- Thyrotoxicosis
Causes by Organ System
Causes in Alphabetical Order
Diagnosis
Diagnosis
Physical Examination
Heart
Chronic Aortic Regurgitation
- Rapid rise and fall
- Systolic BP of lower limbs >20mmHg than Systolic BP in arms
Other
- head bobs back and forth with each heartbeat
Laboratory Findings
Suggested Labs
- CBC: To rule out anemia
- TSH: To rule out thyrotoxicosis
- Blood cultures: To rule out endocarditis
- Free T4: To rule out thyrotoxicosis
- Free T3: To rule out thyrotoxicosis
Chest X Ray
- May demonstrate aortic dissection if there is aortic knob enlargement and widened mediastinum
MRI and CT
- CT can indicate aortic dissection
- MRI can also be used to diagnose aortic dissection
Echocardiography or Ultrasound
- Better than Aortography
- Transesophageal echocardiography measures aortic regurgitation
- detects two additional lumen for diagnosis of aortic dissection
Other Imaging Findings
- If there is a suspicion of atherosclerosis;
- CAD risk stratification measurement
- Cholesterol screening
- Stress test
- Cardiac catheterization
Treatment
Treatment
Medical Therapy
- Treat underlying causes
- Anemia
- Chronic disease
- Fever
- Hypothyroidism
- Regulate cranial pressure
Acute Pharmacotherapy
- Emergency blood cultures and IV antibiotic for endocarditis
Chronic Pharmacotherapies
- Beta-blockers
- PTU
Chronic aortic regurgitation
- Diuretics
- Pressors
- Vasodilators
Surgery
Indications for Surgery
- Emergency surgery
Chronic aortic regurgitation
- Aortic valve replacement
- Commonly in patients with low EF
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ogheneochuko Ajari, MB.BS, MS [2]