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The course of blood pressure in acute stroke is related to the severity of the neurological deficits
Author(s) -
Christensen H.,
Meden P.,
Overgaard K.,
Boysen G.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0404.2002.01356.x
Subject(s) - medicine , blood pressure , stroke (engine) , sss* , cardiology , neurological deficit , cerebral infarction , acute stroke , anesthesia , infarction , ischemia , myocardial infarction , tissue plasminogen activator , mechanical engineering , engineering
Objectives – To evaluate how soon after stroke the diagnosis of hypertension could be established. Methods – In a prospective study including 1192 patients with acute stroke within 6 h, blood pressure was measured serially at 2‐h intervals during the first 24 h. Results are presented as mean arterial blood pressure (MAP). The Scandinavian Stroke Scale (SSS) assessed the neurological deficit. Results – In 779 patients with mild to moderate ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) and SSS > 25, MAP was 118 mmHg (CI 95%: 116–119 mmHg) on admission and 109 mmHg (CI 95%: 108–110 mmHg) 4 h later (paired t ‐test, P < 0.001). No such early decrease was observed in 228 patients with severe cerebral infarction (CI). In mild to moderate ischaemic stroke or TIA, MAP at 24 h was not different from MAP at 3 months in paired t ‐test. Conclusions – Blood pressure 24 h after admission in patients with mild to moderate CI or TIA was representative of the patient's blood pressure 3 months after stroke. A diagnosis of arterial hypertension can be established a few days after stroke.