Neurology
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Autoregulation of cerebral blood flow surrounding acute (6 to 22 hours) intracerebral hemorrhage.
Arterial hypertension is common in the first 24 hours after acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Although increased blood pressure usually declines to baseline values within several days, the appropriate treatment during the acute period has remained controversial. Arguments against treatment of hypertension in patients with acute ICH are based primarily on the concern that reducing arterial blood pressure will reduce cerebral blood flow (CBF). The authors undertook this study to provide further information on the changes in whole-brain and periclot regional CBF that occur with pharmacologic reductions in mean arterial pressure (MAP) in patients with acute ICH. ⋯ In patients with small- to medium-sized acute ICH, autoregulation of CBF was preserved with arterial blood pressure reductions in the range studied.