Effects of Immediate Blood Pressure Reduction on Death and Major Disability in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke

Por: Jiang He, MD, PhD; Yonghong Zhang, MD, PhD; Tan Xu, MD, PhD; Qi Zhao, MD, PhD; Dali Wang, MD; Chung-Shiuan Chen, MS; Weijun Tong, MD; Changjie Liu, MD; Tian Xu, MD; Zhong Ju, MD; Yanbo Peng, MD; et al.
Stroke is the second leading cause of death and the leading cause of serious, long-term disability worldwide.1 Clinical trials have documented that lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of stroke in hypertensive and normotensive patients with a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack. Although the benefit of lowering blood pressure for primary and secondary prevention of stroke has been established, the effect of immediate antihypertensive treatment in patients with acute ischemic stroke and elevated blood pressure is uncertain.  Elevated blood pressure is common during acute ischemic stroke.