Abstract
Whether or not and how aggressively to treat elevated blood pressure (BP) in the face of acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) have been questions stroke neurologists and hypertension experts have been debating for decades. Even in patients without a known history of hypertension, BP tends to elevate after ICH. This effect is thought to be primarily an adaptive response to increased intracerebral pressure (ICP), although other mechanisms may also be involved. Whether elevated BP after acute ICH is simply a marker of increased ICP and a poor prognosis or is a potential target for intervention is unknown. Certainly, increased BP might lead to a greater risk of hematoma expansion and poor outcome, but lowering BP with antihypertensive medication in the face of increased ICP might also be associated with decreased cerebral perfusion and a greater likelihood of ischemia. Current guidelines from the American Stroke Association (ASA) published in 2010 1 suggest aggressively treating BP in patients with acute ICH with intravenous antihypertensive agents if:
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call