If left untreated, malignant hypertension can cause damage to the blood vessels in the eye, kidneys , brain, and heart. Complications include stroke , heart attack , blindness, and renal failure . Symptoms include headache, blurred vision, nausea , vomiting , and lethargy .
Neurologic symptoms are also a common finding.
Malignant hypertension occurs more commonly in males, African Americans, and those with a history for hypertension.