Induced-hypertension in progressing lacunar infarction

Although an early neurological deterioration after lacunar infarction is not rare, its therapeutic options are still undetermined. We investigated the effect of induced-hypertension in lacunar infarction with motor progression.

We reviewed 82 lacunar infarction patients who experienced motor progression [≥ 1-point increase of NIH stroke scale (NIHSS) during hospitalization]. Induced-hypertension using phenylephrine was applied to 52 patients and the others received conventional treatment. Target blood pressure (BP) was defined as a 20% increase of initial systolic BP and motor stabilization time as a period from motor progression to motor stabilization. Good outcome was designated as a modified Rankin disability scale 0-2 at discharge in phenylephrine group.

Phenylephrine group (vs. conventional group) had a lower NIHSS motor score after each treatment (p=0.022), a shorter motor stabilization time (p<0.001) and hospitalization period (p=0.047), although there were not significantly different from baseline clinical and laboratory findings (ie. age, sex, risk factors for stroke, initial BPs, and NIHSS motor score) in two groups. In multiple regression analysis, a history of hypertension (odds ratio, OR 7.11, 95% CI 1.43-35.31, p=0.016), achievement of target BP (OR 8.13, 95% CI 1.49-44.45, p=0.016) and motor stabilization time (OR 0.51 per 1-day increase, 95% CI 0.29-0.87, p=0.015) were independent predictors for good outcome in the phenyephrine group. Side effects of phenylephrine treatment were transient chest tightness (n=3) and dysuria (n=2).

The present study suggests that phenylephrine induced-hypertension can result in early motor restoration without serious side effects in progressing lacunar infarction.