30 Apr Blood Pressure Variability May Trigger Stroke, Especially During Sleep

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Dr. Prabhakaran

Shyam Prabhakaran, MD, MS
Department of Neurology
Feinberg School of Medicine
Northwestern University
Chicago, IL

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Response: Wake-up stroke, or stroke onset during sleep, accounts for one-quarter of stroke presentations. Yet, there are few studies exploring mechanisms or triggers of onset during sleep. We explored whether blood pressure variability which is known to have circadian patterns could trigger wake-up stroke. We found that in the first 24 hours after stroke, those with wake-up stroke had greater blood pressure variability than non-wake up stroke patients.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: Blood pressure variability may be a trigger for stroke onset, especially during sleep.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Response: Further prospective research is needed however. Future studies could evaluate blood pressures prior to stroke, other measures of blood pressure autoregulation, and assess circadian rhythms and biomarkers to stroke onset.

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Citation:
Wake-Up Stroke Is Associated With Greater Nocturnal Mean Arterial Pressure Variability
Michelle D. Lundholm, Melissa Rooney, Matthew B. Maas, Hrayr Attarian, Shyam Prabhakaran
Stroke. 2017;STROKEAHA.116.016202
Originally published April 28, 2017

Note: Content is Not intended as medical advice. Please consult your health care provider regarding your specific medical condition and questions.

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Last Updated on April 30, 2017 by Marie Benz MD FAAD