Blood Pressure in Acute Stroke and Secondary Stroke Prevention

This article reviews current guidelines for early management of blood pressure (BP) and highlights the findings of recent investigative works.Recent FindingsIntensive blood pressure reduction after receiving alteplase has not been shown to improve outcomes. Patients with large vessel occlusions may benefit from lower blood pressure targets post-intervention. Retrospective analyses of large intracerebral hemorrhage trials suggest that specific subgroups of patients may disproportionately benefit from or be harmed by intensive BP reduction. Robust data for management of blood pressure in subarachnoid hemorrhage patients is lacking and expert consensus continues to guide decision-making.SummaryDespite the impact of hypertension on outcomes, most prospective trials assessing efficacy of blood pressure reduction have yielded neutral or inconclusive results. Further trials are necessary to determine which patient populations are most likely to benefit from blood pressure control.
Source: Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports - Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research