Relationship Between Blood Pressure and Stroke Recurrence in Patients With Intracranial Arterial Stenosis

Guidelines for the prevention of stroke in patients with stroke or transient ischemic attack: a guideline for healthcare professionals from the american heart association/american stroke association

The aim of this updated statement is to provide comprehensive and timely evidence-based recommendations on the prevention of ischemic stroke among survivors of ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack. Evidence-based recommendations are included for the control of risk factors, interventional approaches for atherosclerotic disease, antithrombotic treatments for cardioembolism, and the use of antiplatelet agents for noncardioembolic stroke. Further recommendations are provided for the prevention of recurrent stroke in a variety of other specific circumstances, including arterial dissections; patent foramen ovale; hyperhomocysteinemia; hypercoagulable states; sickle cell disease; cerebral venous sinus thrombosis; stroke among women, particularly with regard to pregnancy and the use of postmenopausal hormones; the use of anticoagulation after cerebral hemorrhage; and special approaches to the implementation of guidelines and their use in high-risk populations.

Medical treatment of patients with intracranial atherosclerotic disease

The medical treatment of patients with symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) is directed toward reducing the risk of new ischemic events. The overall strategy is divided into: (1) prevention of occurrence of intraluminal thrombus, with or without embolism; (2) plaque stabilization and regression; and (3) management of atherogenic risk factors. In patients with ICAD, short-term and long-term anticoagulation (compared with aspirin) has not shown to be beneficial. The current guidelines recommend that aspirin monotherapy, the combination of aspirin and extended release dipyridamole, and clopidogrel monotherapy (rather than oral anticoagulants) are all acceptable options in patients with noncardioembolic ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack. The findings of another pilot trial suggest that symptomatic ICAD is a dynamic lesion and cilostazol may prevent its progression. Overall, the subgroup analysis from randomized trials, provide evidence about benefit of aggressive atherogenic risk factor management among patients with ICAD. Current guidelines recommend statin therapy with intensive lipid-lowering effects for patients with atherosclerotic ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack with or without known coronary artery disease to reduce the risk of stroke and cardiovascular events.

Blood pressure-lowering treatment for primary and secondary prevention of different types of stroke

High blood pressure is the most important modifiable risk factor for stroke and accumulating evidence indicates that blood pressure levels are likely to be associated with all stroke subtypes. There is also evidence from randomized trials suggesting that blood pressure-lowering treatment provides protection against every stroke subtype in both primary and secondary prevention settings. Blood pressure lowering is likely to be one of the most effective and generalizable strategies across a variety of stroke subtypes.

Management of hypertension and cerebrovascular disease in the elderly

Cardiovascular disease and stroke disproportionately affect the elderly. The risk for stroke and transient ischemic attack increases exponentially with age. Blood pressure is a potent modifiable target for reducing the risk for stroke in the elderly. In elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension and those with intracranial atherosclerotic disease, blood pressure lowering has consistently been shown to be well tolerated and effective in reducing the risk for stroke and its complications. Evidence suggests that ambulatory blood pressure monitoring may provide a more sensitive means of detecting patients at risk and monitoring therapeutic effect. Agents that modify the renin-angiotensin system, particularly angiotensin receptor blockers, may confer additional benefit in stroke protection beyond blood pressure lowering. Several clinical trials currently in progress promise to provide guidance regarding the optimal choice of agent and degree of blood pressure lowering for prevention of stroke and cognitive decline in elderly patients.