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Interact included 404 patients with acute intracere-bral hemorrhage (ICH), elevated systolic blood pressure (BP) (150 to 220 mmHg), and capacity to lower BP within 6 hours of onset. CT was performed at baseline and at 24 hours to compare hematoma size.

Lowering Blood Pressure Reduces Hematoma Growth After Acute Intracerebral Hemorrhage

May 30, 2011

Lowering Blood Pressure Reduces Hematoma Growth After Acute Intracerebral Hemorrhage

By Matthew E. Fink, MD

Source: Arima H, et al, for the Intensive Blood Pressure Reduction in Acute Cerebral hemorrhage Trial (INTERACT) Investigators. Lower treatment blood pressure is associated with greatest reduction in hematoma growth after acute intracerebral hemorrhage. Hypertension 2010;56:852-858.

Interact included 404 patients with acute intracere-bral hemorrhage (ICH), elevated systolic blood pressure (BP) (150 to 220 mmHg), and capacity to lower BP within 6 hours of onset. CT was performed at baseline and at 24 hours to compare hematoma size. There was no significant association between baseline systolic BP levels and hematoma volume. Maximum reduction in hematoma growth occurred in the one-third of patients with the lowest on-treatment systolic BP levels (median = 135 mmHg). Intensive BP reduction to systolic levels between 130 and 140 mm Hg is likely to provide maximum protection against hematoma growth.