An analysis of INTERACT1 raises the hope that intensive blood pressure reduction ultimately will be shown to improve clinical outcomes.
Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) often acutely increases blood pressure (BP). This hypertensive response may promote ongoing bleeding, but we do not know whether BP reduction improves clinical outcomes. To address this uncertainty, researchers conducted the INTERACT1 trial, randomizing 404 patients with ICH to intensive BP reduction (systolic BP target, 140 mm Hg) or standard BP control (≤180 mm Hg systolic). This pilot trial showed that intensive BP reduction decreased hematoma growth an average 1.7 mL more than standard BP control, but the trial lacked power to detect a significant difference in clinical outcomes, prompting the larger, ongoing INTERACT2 trial.
To gauge the likelihood that INTERACT2 will demonstrate a clinical benefit, the sa…
Reviewing Author
DisclosuresSpeaker’s bureauGenentech
Grant / Research supportNational Institutes of Health/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; Michael Goldberg Stroke Research Fund
Editorial boardsPLOS One; Scientific Reports
Leadership positions in professional societiesNeurocritical Care Society (Research Committee Member)
DisclosuresSpeaker’s bureauGenentech
Grant / Research supportNational Institutes of Health/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; Michael Goldberg Stroke Research Fund
Editorial boardsPLOS One; Scientific Reports
Leadership positions in professional societiesNeurocritical Care Society (Research Committee Member)