Rapid Assessment of Blood Pressure Variability and Outcome After Successful Thrombectomy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

High blood pressure (BP) variability after endovascular stroke therapy is associated with poor outcome. Conventional BP variability measures require long recordings, limiting their utility as a risk assessment tool to guide clinical decision-making. Here, we performed rapid assessment of BP variability by spectral analysis and evaluated its association with early clinical improvement and long-term functional outcomes.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective study of 146 patients with anterior circulation ischemic stroke who underwent successful endovascular stroke therapy. Spectral analysis of 5-minute recordings of beat-to-beat BP was used to quantify BP variability. Outcomes included initial clinical response and modified Rankin Scale at 90 days.

RESULTS

Increased BP variability at high frequencies was independently associated with poor functional outcome at 90 days (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.85 [95% CI, 1.07-3.25], =0.03; low-/high-frequency ratio aOR, 0.67 [95% CI, 0.46-0.92], =0.02) and reduced likelihood of an early neurological recovery (aOR, 0.62 [95% CI, 0.44-0.91], =0.01 and aOR, 1.37 [95% CI, 1.03-1.87], =0.04, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

High-frequency BP oscillations after successful reperfusion may be harmful and associate with a decreased likelihood of neurological recovery and favorable functional outcomes. Rapid assessment of BP variability throughout the postreperfusion period is feasible and may allow for a more personalized BP management.