Which of the following is a neurologic effect listed for malignant hypertension?

• A. MI
• B. LV dysfunction
• C. Encephalopathy
• D. Renal failure

Answer: (C)

Malignant hypertension can injure the brain by overwhelming cerebral autoregulation, leading to hypertensive encephalopathy. This neurologic syndrome presents with altered mental status, confusion, headache, visual disturbances, and sometimes seizures. Among the options, encephalopathy is the neurologic effect, whereas the others reflect cardiac or renal involvement (miocardial infarction, LV dysfunction, renal failure). Recognizing encephalopathy as a neurologic manifestation helps distinguish brain involvement from other organ damage in a hypertensive emergency.