Blood pressure after stroke

Abstract

In 334 consecutive admissions for acute stroke, the blood pressure was elevated in 84% on the day of admission. The blood pressure decreased spontaneously an average of 20 mm Hg systolic and 10 mm Hg diastolic in the 10 days following the acute event without specific antihypertensive therapy and was elevated in only 1/3 of the cases on the 10th hospital day. The early elevation in blood pressure is probably a physiological response to brain ischemia, and blood pressure falls as recovery of brain function occurs.