Comprehensive Hypertension Center

Comprehensive Hypertension Care

The University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Hypertension Center specializes in the treatment of high blood pressure, including difficult-to-manage hypertension. Our center is accredited by the American Heart Association (AHA) and has earned this designation as of 2018. 

The UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Hypertension Center was founded by Dr. George L. Bakris, who was a national leader in hypertension, diabetes and kidney disease. His research and clinical trials have changed our understanding of these conditions and have led to innovative advancements in how we manage and treat hypertension, diabetes and kidney disease.

Dr. Bakris' pioneering work remains the foundation of our team's mission, and we continue that commitment to individualized patient care and clinical research. 

• Dr. Mohammed A. Rafey, is the director of the Hypertension Center and board certified in hypertension and nephrology. Dr. Rafey has over 20 years of experience managing patients with complex and difficult-to-control hypertension. He has taken part in several major NIH- and pharmaceutical-sponsored hypertension clinical trials.
• Dr. Arlene Chapman has extensive experience in hypertension and kidneys disease. Dr. Chapman is active in NIH-funded clinical research focused on controlling blood pressure for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), monogenic forms of hypertension and the pharmacogenetics of hypertension management.
• Dr. Sambhavi (Sam) Krishnamoorthy is a transplant nephrologist who provides 24/7 blood pressure monitoring for kidney transplant donor follow-up care. She is also developing protocols for long-term care for kidney transplant patients and donors.

Managing Hypertension Long Term

• Chronic kidney disease
• Diabetes
• High risk or previous occurrence of heart attack or stroke
• Neuroendocrine causes of hypertension
• Pregnancies at high risk for hypertension, preeclampsia or chronic kidney disease

Our internationally renowned, highly-skilled specialists in obstetrics, cardiology, nephrology, endocrinology, neurology, vascular surgery and radiology treat patients from around the world. Patient referrals to the Comprehensive Hypertension Center can be for a variety of reasons, including a second or third opinion on their treatment or the cause of their high blood pressure. Our specialists also see self-referred patients. 

Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring 

In some cases, a patient is asked to wear a small, portable device called an Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitor (ABPM) to measure their blood pressure continuously over a 24- to 48-hour period. ABPM provides a more detailed and accurate picture of a patient’s blood pressure over a longer period of time to track how they perform daily activities. ABPM is also used to help identify the specific cause(s) of hypertension and other heart conditions.

Approach to Tailored Patient Care

Our multidisciplinary team specializes in assessing and treating secondary hypertension, which is high blood pressure that has been linked to a specific cause, such as a blocked renal artery, certain hormonal abnormalities, genetic abnormalities or tumors. After performing a thorough diagnostic evaluation, our team works closely with the referring care provider to develop and implement a blood pressure management strategy that is tailored to each individual patient. 

High Blood Pressure & Diabetes Research

Ongoing research initiatives at UChicago Medicine give our patients access to leading-edge treatment techniques for hypertensive disorders. Our physician-scientists are constantly exploring improved prevention and treatment strategies for hypertension and the complications associated with hypertension. 

Our hypertension team also focuses on research that is evaluating ways to prevent existing kidney disease from getting worse overtime. Their work improves treatment for high blood pressure by slowing or preventing the progression to dialysis in diabetic patients.

The Comprehensive Hypertension Center is housed within nephrology, offering specialized care for patients with hypertension, including resistant and complex hypertension.

Clinical Research Center

The Clinical Research Center at the University of Chicago is part of the Institute of Translational Medicine (ITM) supported by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It houses the infrastructure for advanced clinical and translational research and is an integral part of our hypertension research projects. As the director of the CRC, Dr. Arlene Chapman continues to be an important part of the AHA Comprehensive Hypertension Center’s research program, given that our research studies are carried out with CRCs support.