BS3016: Neuroscience Futures ENCHANTED BP – Explaining the Results
Professor T G Robinson
Pro Vice-Chancellor
Head of College of Life Sciences
Dean of Medicine
NIHR Senior Investigator
Cerebrovascular Physiology: Implications for Hypertension Treatment
Impact of Blood Pressure (BP) Management:
Decreasing BP:
Arteriolar vasodilation leading to maximal vasodilation, resulting in diminished cerebral blood flow (CBF) and potential cerebral ischaemia.
Increasing BP:
Arteriolar vasoconstriction that can lead to breakthrough vasodilation, increased CBF, but also risks blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction and cerebral oedema.
Patient Criteria for Treatment
Candidates include:
Patients with acute ischaemic stroke < 4.5 hours of onset eligible for intravenous rtPA (recombinant tissue plasminogen activator) with systolic BP < 185 mmHg.