Predictors of poststroke blood pressure level and course

Blood pressure (BP) is often elevated in acute stroke. However, predictors of BP level and BP course during the first week after a stroke remain unknown. Knowledge of such factors may be of relevance when manipulation of early BP levels are considered as potentially therapeutic in acute stroke. In this study, BP data was collected by reviewing BP records of patients who were admitted with a first cerebral infarct to our stroke unit and who had their first BP recordings within 24 hours after stroke onset. Age and known hypertension before stroke were significantly associated with elevated poststroke BP level, whereas ischemic heart disease was associated with a lower BP level. BP decline in the poststroke period related to the initial BP elevation. BP in hypertensive patients remained higher than in nonhypertensive patients during the first poststroke week. Between day 0 and day 4 after stroke onset, only the daytime systolic BP decline showed a significant association with previously established hypertension. There was no difference in initial BP level, nor in the rate of BP decline between day 0 and 4 in patients with a lacunar infarct and those with an infarct involving the cortex. These findings indicate that BP increase poststroke is not a general phenomenon, nor is BP decline in the first poststroke week. Known hypertension is probably the strongest predictor of poststroke BP increase. Hypertensive patients are more sensitive to sympathetic stimulation. Therefore, when lowering of elevated BP early poststroke is tested as a potential neuroprotective modality, it may best be achieved by treating patients with sympathicolytic, antihypertensive drugs.