A 44-year-old man has clinic BP readings of 150-156/94-98 mmHg on three visits over two months. He is otherwise asymptomatic and takes no medications. Out-of-office assessment shows mean daytime ambulatory BP of 128/76 mmHg. The most appropriate label is:
- A White coat hypertension ✓
- B Masked hypertension
- C Sustained hypertension
- D Pseudohypertension
Correct answer: A. White coat hypertension
Explanation
White coat hypertension is defined by elevated office readings with normal out-of-office ambulatory or home measurements; a common daytime ambulatory cutoff is below 135/85 mmHg. Masked hypertension is the reverse pattern, normal office readings with elevated ambulatory values. Pseudohypertension refers to falsely high cuff readings from noncompressible arteries, typically in elderly patients, and requires Osler maneuver or intra-arterial measurement to detect.
Reference: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 21st ed.
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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.