BP Reduction in Acute Intracranial Hemorrhage: How Low Should We Go?

This small phase I study shows that BP reduction is feasible but does not identify an optimum target level.

Patients with acute intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) might need blood pressure reduction. Current guidelines recommend target BP levels varying from 140 to 180 mm Hg. In a prospective, multicenter phase I study, researchers assessed the feasibility and safety of BP lowering with nicardipine in 60 patients with acute, nontraumatic ICH who presented to an emergency department within 6 hours of symptom onset with evidence of chronic hypertension and initial systolic BP ≥170 mm Hg. Patients with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores ≤8 and hematoma volume >60 mL were excluded.

Patients were enrolled in stepwise fashion into three target systolic BP groups: 170 to 200 mm Hg (18 patients), 140 to 170 mm Hg (20), and 110 to 140 mm Hg (22). Nicardipine was t…

Reviewing Author

Kristi L. Koenig, MD, FACEP

Disclosures

Editorial boardsKoenig & Schultz's Disaster Medicine: Comprehensive Principles and Practices

Kristi L. Koenig, MD, FACEP

Disclosures

Editorial boardsKoenig & Schultz's Disaster Medicine: Comprehensive Principles and Practices

BP Reduction in Acute Intracranial Hemorrhage: How Low Should We Go?

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Reviewing Author