The angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist olmesartan preserves cerebral blood flow and cerebrovascular reserve capacity, and accelerates rehabilitative outcomes in hypertensive patients with a history of stroke.

We aimed to determine the effects of angiotensin II receptor blocker on cerebral hemodynamics and rehabilitative outcome. Sixteen hypertensive patients with a history of stroke received 10-20 mg olmesartan daily for eight weeks. Blood pressure decreased after treatment compared with the baseline, whereas cerebral blood flow (CBF) values of the affected and nonaffected sides increased. The results of the cerebrovascular reserve capacity were also statistically increased in the affected side. Improvements were observed in three rehabilitative outcome parameters. These findings suggest that olmesartan has beneficial effects in hypertensive patients with stroke and impaired CBF autoregulation, and might improve cerebral circulation and rehabilitative outcome.