Antihypertensive therapy and orthostatic hemodynamic responses in acute stroke.

Background: It is not known whether antihypertensive medications affect orthostatic blood pressure (BP) regulation in the early period after stroke. Knowledge of this may have implications for clinical practice.

Methods: A total of 40 acute ischemic stroke patients (mild-to-moderate severity) taking antihypertensive drugs, and 40 patients with acute stroke of similar severity not receiving such drugs were studied.

Twenty-four hour systolic blood pressure predicts long-term mortality following acute stroke.

Objective: To assess the effects of acute blood pressure (BP) on long-term mortality following stroke.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Setting: Leicester Teaching Hospitals.