The characteristics of blood pressure (BP) patterns in patients with cerebrovascular accident have not been well studied. Nineteen patients with acute stroke received 24-hour noninvasive ambulatory BP monitoring during the acute and the late stages of stroke. Fourteen patients had past history of hypertension. In the acute stage, the differences between daytime BP averages(147/95 ± 19/11 mm Hg) and nighttime averages (145/92 ± 13/9 mm Hg)were not statistically significant in patients with past history of hypertension(p > 0.5 for systolic BP; p > 0.1 for diastolic BP). In patients without history of hypertension, the daytime BP average (127/89 ±7/13 mm Hg) was significantly higher than the nighttime average (118/80 ±2/15 mm Hg) in systole(p < 0.05), but not in diastole (p > 0.05). During the late stage of stroke, the differences between daytime BP averages ( 143/95 ± 24/13 mm Hg) and nighttime BP averages (135/96 ± 19/12 mm Hg) were not statistically significant for the hypertensive group (p > 0.05 for both systolic and diastolic BP). In conclusion, hypertensive patients with cerebrovascular accident did not exhibit the nocturnal fall of BP both in the acute and late stages of the disease. The same phenomenon was observed for the diastolic BP in patients without history of hypertension. The mechanisms of the loss of circadian change of BP and its clinical implications are the interesting topics for further studies.

Keywords:
Blood pressure, Circadian rhythm, Stroke
This content is only available via PDF.
1992
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.