Hypertension Diagnostics

Laboratory Tests and Ancillaries

Diagnostic tests should be done to exclude the secondary causes of hypertension, screen for comorbidities, provide evidence for additional risk factors, and note the occurrence of target organ damage. The laboratory tests that are usually requested include complete blood count (CBC), urinalysis, urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio, renal function tests including estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), fasting blood sugar and/or HbA1c, lipid profile (after 9- to 12-hour fast), serum creatinine, serum potassium and sodium, serum uric acid, liver function tests (LFTs), and thyroid stimulating hormone, 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), and echocardiography.

Imaging

Evaluation may also include kidney or abdominal ultrasound, carotid or femoral artery ultrasound, ABI, brain computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).