Acute blood pressure lowering therapy

Acute stroke, whether due to infarction or haemorrhage, is associated with high blood pressure, and 68% of stroke patients have a history of high blood pressure on admission.

In acute ischaemic stroke, high blood pressure appears to adversely affect outcomes through increasing the risk of cerebral oedema. In acute intracerebral haemorrhage, the blood pressure often becomes elevated and may be associated with haematoma expansion.

For current research and evidence-based recommendations see our Clinical Guidelines.