Blood Pressure Variability After Acute Ischemic Stroke and Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Refining Its Definition,...

Increased blood pressure variability (BPV) in the acute phases of cerebrovascular emergencies, such as acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), has been shown to result in worsened outcomes. Although several studies have reported this association, no consensus exists for specific BPV targets or a consistent, unified definition of BPV in AIS or ICH. Therefore, we convened the Blood Pressure Variability in Cerebrovascular Emergencies Consortia, consisting of a multidisciplinary group of experts in stroke, neurocritical care, perioperative medicine, emergency medicine, and clinical pharmacy to assess the clinical impact of BPV and to develop a working consensus on defining BPV, identifying interventions to mitigate negative outcomes from increased BPV, and laying the groundwork for BPV research concepts in the future. First, the Consortia proposed bifurcating systolic BPV (SBPV) into two distinct periods-SBPV₁ and SBPV₂. SBPV₁ involves hyperacute management, when rapid and smooth blood pressure control is crucial. SBPV₂, the plateauing phase, consists of a more gradual, maintenance-therapy slope. For both periods, enabling a "smooth" (SBPV₁) and "sustained" (SBPV₂) trajectory is likely ideal, but more phase-specific research is required to validate this concept. Secondly, Consortia proposed to calculate BPV by subtracting maximum and minimum systolic blood pressure over subsequent measurements because it represents the most clinically feasible option among many proposed equations in the literature. Third, for ICH, the Consortia preferred intravenous antihypertensive medication to reach BPV goals as fast, safe, and efficiently as possible, consistent with American Heart Association/American Stroke Association guidelines recommending "treatment regimens that limit BPV and achieve smooth, sustained blood pressure control." For AIS, guidelines do not yet address BPV, but Consortia members proposed an algorithm with distinct SBPV goals based on time (as a function of stroke acuity), arterial subtype (large, medium, and small vessel), thrombolytic and/or thrombectomy status, and presenting SBP. As the understanding of BPV evolves, future research may build on and/or refine concepts proposed by this Consortia.