Comprehensive Hypertension Center

Comprehensive Hypertension Care

The University of Chicago Medicine's 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.

We are determined to actively manage your hypertension, using individualized care through inpatient and outpatient consultations to patients who have hypertension in addition to other complex health conditions, including:

    •    Chronic kidney disease
    •    Diabetes
    •    High risk for heart attack or stroke
    •    Previous occurrence of heart attack or stroke

Skilled physicians from all over the world, including specialties in obstetrics, cardiology, nephrology and endocrinology, refer patients to the Comprehensive Hypertension Center for a second or third opinion on treatment and causes of 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 over a 24- to 48-hour period. ABPM provides a doctor with a more accurate picture of a patient’s blood pressure and is used to help determine specific causes of hypertension and other cardiovascular risks.

Approach to Tailored Patient Care

George Bakris, MD, is a board-certified hypertension specialist and director of the Comprehensive Hypertension Center. He is also a kidney specialist with expertise in hypertension management of diabetic kidney disease. His team is highly skilled in the diagnosis, assessment and treatment of high blood pressure in patients with kidney disease and/or diabetes.

Dr. Bakris' team also specializes in the assessment and treatment of secondary hypertension, which is high blood pressure that has been linked to a specific cause — like a blocked renal artery, certain hormonal abnormalities, genetic abnormalities or tumors. After performing a diagnostic evaluation, Dr. Bakris works closely with his team to develop and implement a blood pressure management strategy that is tailored to each patient.

As a member of the Comprehensive Hypertension Center team, Dr. Mohammed A. Rafey is board-certified in hypertension and nephrology (kidney disease). Dr. Rafey has over 20 years' experience managing patients with complex and difficult-to-control hypertension, and he has taken part in several major National Institutes of Health (NIH) and pharmaceutical-sponsored hypertension clinical trials.

High Blood Pressure & Diabetes Research

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

In collaboration with the University of Chicago Medicine Diabetes Research and Training Center, Dr. Bakris serves on national guideline committees and leads clinical studies that examine progression of diabetic kidney disease and studies examining innovations in resistant hypertension. His research outcomes are applied directly to patient care, helping us to provide advanced treatments for patients with hypertensive disorders.

Dr. Bakris and his team focus on progression of kidney disease. His team has also investigated how treatment for high blood pressure can slow or prevent progression to dialysis in diabetic patients. The Comprehensive Hypertension Center is housed within the University of Chicago Medicine Kovler Comprehensive Diabetes Center, offering specialized care for patients who have diabetes.