Intensive Treatment of Blood Pressure in Acute Ischemic Stroke. Study TICA 2

Intensive Treatment of Blood Pressure in Acute Ischemic Stroke. Study TICA 2

Demonstrate that maintenance of systolic blood pressure between 140 and 160 mm Hg during the acute phase of ischemic stroke is more effective than management according to the International Guideline (treat when systolic blood pressure exceeds 185 mm Hg)

Control of blood pressure figures remains one of the most important risk factors in primary and secondary prevention in patients with stroke. The current strategy for the hypertensive treatment of patients during the acute phase of ischemic stroke within the first 72 hours remains a highly debated and unclear issue, with no consensus on the range or appropriate blood pressure ranges to be handled (13).

Team study working hypothesis focuses on the study of blood pressure (for 72 hours), through its intensive control (recording and adjustment every four hours), in the acute phase of ischemic stroke. Specifically, it is based on the monitoring and maintenance of systolic blood pressure between 140 and 160 mm Hg in patients with acute ischemic stroke; And this can lead to a better functional prognosis, measured at 90 days, compared with the functional prognosis of patients treated according to the recommendations of the current Clinical Guidelines, which propose to act on systolic blood pressure only when it exceeds 185 mm Hg (13,22).

Although the intense decrease in blood pressure during the acute phase of stroke has the potential risk of decreasing cerebral perfusion in the area of ischemic penumbra, in recent observational studies (19), a worse functional prognosis has not been found in those patients With systolic blood pressure above 140 mm Hg.

There is no previous evidence from other intervention studies related to blood pressure control and a benefit to patients with acute ischemic stroke. Comparison using a randomized clinical trial of a group of patients with blood pressure control following current guidelines with a group of patients with systolic blood pressure between 140 and 160 mm Hg may allow a simple, rapidly applicable therapeutic alternative to Clinical practice, low cost and extrapolable to a wider population, such as patients with stroke of any etiology.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Men or women aged 18 years and up to and 85 years (both included).
• Clinical and neuroimaging diagnosis (CT or MRI) of ischemic stroke.
• Possibility of initiating antihypertensive treatment within 12 hours after the onset of symptoms (in the case of stroke, the start time is considered the time in that the patient has been seen asymptomatic for the last time).
• Participant with systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 140 mm Hg and less than or equal to 220 mm Hg at the time of inclusion.
• Participant or legal representative able to understand the study requirements and sign Informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Uncontrollable hypertension (SBP greater than 220 mm Hg) or any condition requiring urgent antihypertensive treatment.
• Have suffered a stroke in the previous 90 days in the same territory as the current stroke.
• Had a myocardial infarction in the previous 90 days.
• Suspected aortic dissection or hypertensive encephalopathy.
• Presence of intracerebral or subarachnoid hemorrhage in basal neuroimaging (Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging).
• Recanalization is possible or intraarterial recanalization techniques have been performed due to the current stroke.
• Known critical carotid occlusion or stenosis.
• To be a candidate for carotid revascularization in the next three months.
• Previous alterations that, in the opinion of the investigator, may interfere in the interpretation of the neurological scales.
• Coma or low level of consciousness (defined as a score ≥ 2 in section 1.a of NIHSS), dementia or mental disability that, in the opinion of the investigator, patient is unable to participate in the study.
• Convulsive seizures at any time from the onset of symptoms to the initial evaluation.
• Neurological or non-neurological comorbidities that, in the opinion of the investigator, may lead, regardless of the current stroke, to a deterioration in the patient's neurologic status during the study period, or may hinder the evaluation of the neurological state caused only by stroke (i.e., metabolic encephalopathies, hemiplegic migraine, multiple sclerosis, central nervous system tumor, epilepsy, monocular blindness).
• Patient is likely to undergo a procedure involving extracorporeal circulation during the study period.
• Any condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, may compromise the patient's ability to complete the study (i.e., concomitant diseases that may threaten the patient's life, such as neoplasms or terminal failure of an organ).
• Patient's previous disability, determined by a score in modified Rankin scale > 1.
• Women of childbearing age with positive pregnancy test or breastfeeding at the time of inclusion.
• Women of childbearing potential (menopause less than 2 years old or not surgically sterilized) who are not going to take effective and adequate measures to avoid conception during the study period. Control measures include hormonal contraceptives, barrier methods such as diaphragm or intrauterine devices and / or spermicidal preservatives.
• Current dependence on substances of abuse such as alcohol, sympathomimetic amines, cannabis, cocaine, hallucinogens, opioids, phencyciclin, sedatives or hypnotics.
• Life expectancy is less than the expected duration of the clinical trial or any situation that, at the discretion of the investigator, may make participation in the clinical trial dangerous (eg drug use, alcohol addiction, etc.).
• Have received a drug or product under or participate in a clinical trial within 30 days prior to the date of inclusion in the study.