malignant hypertension n essential hypertension characterized by acute onset, severe symptoms, rapidly progressive course, and poor prognosis
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a severe hypertensive state with poor prognosis; it is characterized by papilledema of the ocular fundus with vascular exudative and hemorrhagic lesions, medial thickening of small arteries and arterioles, and left ventricular hypertrophy. Diastolic pressures as high as 130 mm Hg or more are commonly present.Medical dictionary. 2011.