Objective:
Arterial stiffness is associated with the risk of stroke and its clinical sequelae as well. Arterial stiffness is pressure-dependent, and blood pressure still oscillates, especially in acute period of stroke. The aim of our study was to assess the short- and long-term variations of blood pressure and arterial stiffness in patients after acute ischemic stroke.
Design and method:
We prospectively enrolled 51 adult ischemic stroke patients (aged 61.9 ± 12.2 years; National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, 5 [3–7]) admitted within the first 24 hours from symptom onset. The diagnosis of ischemic stroke were based on clinical presentation and magnetic resonance imaging. All patients had baseline clinical data recorded and underwent the assessment of arterial stiffness by the measurement of carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) using applanation tonometry (SphygmoCor® [AtCor Medical Pty Ltd, Sydney, Australia]) on day 1, day 6, and later (>90 days) after symptom onset. The changes of PWV and blood pressure parameters were calculated using repeated measures analysis of variance. Correlations between PWV and systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP), mean (MBP, and pulse (PP) pressure were assessed by Pearson correlation coefficient.
Results:
Values of blood pressure parameters and PWV are given in the Table. PWV on day 6 and on day >90 were higher than PWV on day >90 (p = 0.04 and p = 0.02, respectively); however, PWV between day 1 and day 6 did not change significantly (p = 0.96) (Figure).
On day 1, PWV was positively associated with PP only (p = 0.01); on day 6, with SBP, PP, and MBP (p < 0.01, p < 0.01, p = 0.03, respectively); and on day >90, with SBP and PP (p = 0.01 for both parameters).
Conclusions:
In the hyperacute ischemic stroke, PWV is increased independently of systolic blood pressure. However, in later stages it decreases, parallel to SBP changes.
