Abstract 3086: Safety of Induced Hypertension in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients with Suboptimal Recanalization after Endovascular Thrombolysis.
Background: Induced hypertension is feasible, likely safe and can improve neurologic deficits in patients who are not candidates for thrombolysis. The safety of inducing hypertension in post-thrombolytic patients with suboptimal recanalization after endovascular thrombolysis is not currently known. Objective: To determine the feasibility and safety of inducing hypertension in patients in the acute post thrombolytic phase. Methods: We analyzed retrospectively collected data from a database of patients who presented with acute ischemic stroke and who received endovascular treatment with or without intravenous (IV) r-tPA . Patients with suboptimal recanalization after endovascular thrombolysis underwent induction of hypertension (systolic blood pressure [SBP] target 140-180 mmHg) for a 24 hour period after an immediate post-procedure CT scan did not demonstrate any intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). We determined the rate of symptomatic ICH (sICH), and outcome based on modified Rankin score (mRS) at the time of discharge and compared these data to those observed in patients with non-induced hypertension and normotension. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the odds ratio of neurological worsening and/or death after adjusting for initial National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score and success of hypertension induction, which was defined as a sustained mean BP of ≥ 30% above the admission BP over the first 24 hours. Results: A total of 16 patients (12%, mean age 66) underwent post-thrombolytic induced hypertension among 138 patients who were treated with endovascular treatment. The mean age (± standard deviation [SD]) of treated patients was 68 (± 15.3) years and 52 (46%) were women. Hypertension was induced using intravenous phenylephrine or norepinephrine infusion in 9 and 7 patients, respectively. The mean (±SD) increase in SBP was 140 (±16.4) mmHg. In multivariate analysis, patients with post-thrombolytic induced hypertension had similar risk of sICH (odds ratio [OR] 0.98, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.11-8.55) and similar discharge mRS (OR 1.85, 95% CI 0.50-6.84). Conclusion: There was no observed increase in sICH or poor outcomes associated with induced hypertension in patients with suboptimal recanalization after endovascular thrombolysis supporting safety. Further trials directed towards assessing efficacy of this approach are needed.