29 May Arterial Stiffness Suggests Poor Outcome After Ischemic Stroke

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Johann Auer MD
Department of Cardiology and Intensive Care
St Josef Hospital
Braunau, Austria

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

Response: Acute hypertensive response in stroke patients is associated with an increased risk of death or dependency and clinical deterioration. Arterial stiffness is associated with the risk of developing stroke, fatal stroke, cerebral small vessel disease, cognitive decline, and early clinical outcome after ischemic stroke. Moreover, patients having elevated aortic stiffness are more likely to develop acute hypertensive response in the early phase of stroke.

The intriguing question remains, whether the impaired prognosis associated with an increase in arterial stiffness is mediated – at least to some degree – by an acute hypertensive response. Furthermore, fundamental questions about the optimal threshold that define abnormal blood pressure dynamics and the impact of treatment on acute hypertensive response, arterial stiffness, and on the risk of future cardiovascular events remain unanswered.

Until such questions are adequately addressed in future clinical trials, acute hypertensive response as well as arterial stiffness will remain risk markers rather than a treatment target.

Nevertheless, this study confirms the value of assessment of central hemodynamics and arterial stiffness for selecting high risk patients with poor outcomes after ischemic stroke.

MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.

Citation:

Arterial stiffness, central blood pressures, wave reflections and acute hypertensive response in stroke

Auer, J. et al.
Atherosclerosis , Volume 0 , Issue 0 ,
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2016.05.034

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 May 29, 2016 by Marie Benz MD FAAD