Albright, Karen C.

Background: Control of systolic blood pressure (SBP) after primary intracerebral hemorrhage improves outcomes. Factors determining the number of blood pressure medications (BPM) required for goal SBP<160 mm Hg at discharge are unknown. We hypothesized that higher admission-SBPs require a greater number of BPM for goal discharge-SBP<160 mm Hg, and investigated factors influencing this goal. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 288 patients who presented with primary intracerebral hemorrhage. Admission-SBP was obtained. Primary outcome was the number of BPM at discharge. Comparison was made between patients presenting with and without a history of hypertension, and patients discharged on <3 and ≥3 BPM. Results: Patients with hypertension history had a higher median admission-SBP compared with those without (180 vs. 157 mm Hg, P=0.0001). In total, 133 of 288 (46.2%) patients were discharged on <3 BPM; 155/288 (53.8%) were discharged on ≥3 BPM. Hypertension history (P<0.0001) and admission-SBP (P<0.0001) predicted the number of BPM at discharge. In patients without hypertension history, every 10 mm Hg increase in SBP resulted in an absolute increase of 0.5 BPM at discharge (P=0.0011), whereas in those with hypertension, the absolute increase was 1.3 BPM (P=0.0012). In comparison with patients discharged on <3 BPM, patients discharged on ≥3 BPM were more likely to have a higher median admission-SBP, be younger in age, belong to the African-American race, have a history of diabetes, have higher median admission–National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and modified Rankin Scale of 4 to 5 at discharge. Conclusions: An understanding of the factors influencing BPM at discharge may help clinicians better optimize blood pressure control both before and after discharge.

In 2015, the Food and Drug Administration updated the contraindications for the use of alteplase in acute ischemic stroke (AIS), potentially creating a greater impact on treatment. A history of intracranial hemorrhage and recent stroke within 3 months were removed as contraindications, increasing the number of patients eligible for alteplase. The aim of this commentary is to call attention to the updates and discuss them relative to current American Heart Association/American Stroke Association guidelines. Additionally, we estimate the clinical impact of the updates by analyzing AIS admissions to a large-volume Comprehensive Stroke Center.

Background and Purpose— Recombinant-activated factor VII (rFVIIa) is an investigational treatment for intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). We have evaluated the drug’s treatment effect based on time to treatment. Methods— ICH patients treated up to 4 hours from symptom onset were divided based on time to treatment: ≤3 hours (3H) and 3 to 4 hours (4H). Head CT was done at baseline and 24 hours. Outcome measures included: ICH growth at 24 hours, mortality, favorable outcome and discharge disposition. A cohort of nontreated matched ICH patients was used to asses the clinical efficacy. Results— Forty-six patients were treated with rFVIIa: 24 in the 3H group (range 70 to 180 minutes), 22 in the 4H group (range 181 to 300). One hundred and forty-eight patients formed the control group. Mean baseline ICH volume was 8.8 mL for 3H and 10.1 mL for 4H. Mean 24-hour volume was 9.3 mL for 3H (absolute increase 1.05 mL, relative increase 11.9%) and 11.5 mL for 4H (absolute increase 1.1 mL, relative increase 10.9%); P =0.47 is for the difference in relative increase. Mortality was 12.5% for 3H group, 13.6% for 4H, and 13.1% for the control. In the 3H group, 58.3% were discharged with a poor outcome, compared with 54.5% in 4H and 54.1% in the control. Thrombotic adverse events occurred in 11.1% of patients treated with rFVIIa. Conclusions— In our off-label with rFVIIa, we did not find evidence of a treatment effect based on time to treatment. Other criteria should be sought to identify patients who might benefit clinically from rFVIIa.