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Association between neurologic improvement with decline in blood pressure and recanalization in stroke
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Association between neurologic improvement with decline in blood pressure and recanalization in stroke

Nandakumar Nagaraja, Steven Warach, Amie W Hsia, Harold P Adams Jr, Sungyoung Auh, Lawrence L Latour and José G Merino
JAMA neurology, Vol.71(12), pp.1555-1558
12/2014
DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2014.2036
PMCID: PMC5257035
PMID: 25330362
url
https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2014.2036View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Patients with stroke often have a decline in blood pressure after thrombolysis. Neurologic improvement could result from recanalization or better collateral flow despite persistent occlusion. We hypothesized that neurologic improvement with concurrent decline in blood pressure may be a clinical sign of recanalization after intravenous tissue plasminogen activator. Patients treated with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator at Suburban Hospital, Bethesda, Maryland, and MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, from 1999 to 2009 were included in the study if they had pretreatment and 24-hour magnetic resonance angiographic scans, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores at those times, and proximal middle cerebral artery occlusion demonstrated prior to treatment. The recanalization status on 24-hour magnetic resonance angiography was classified as none, partial, or complete. Seventeen patients met study criteria. On 24-hour magnetic resonance angiography, 3 patients had no recanalization, 8 had partial recanalization, and 6 had complete recanalization. At 24 hours after thrombolysis, neurologic improvement with concurrent decline in systolic blood pressure of 20 mm Hg or greater was seen in 4 patients with partial recanalization, 4 patients with complete recanalization, and none of the patients with no recanalization. Neurologic improvement with concurrent decline in systolic blood pressure of 20 mm Hg or greater after intravenous tissue plasminogen activator may be a clinical sign of recanalization. This observation needs confirmation in a larger cohort.
Registries Thrombolytic Therapy - utilization Cerebrovascular Circulation - drug effects Humans Middle Aged Magnetic Resonance Angiography Male Tissue Plasminogen Activator - administration & dosage Treatment Outcome Fibrinolytic Agents - pharmacology Tissue Plasminogen Activator - pharmacology Aged, 80 and over Female Aged Blood Pressure - drug effects Fibrinolytic Agents - administration & dosage Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery - drug therapy

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