Intensive blood pressure reduction in patients with acute ischaemic stroke treated with intravenous thrombolysis reduces intracranial bleeding, but does not improve functional outcomes, compared with guideline-recommended blood pressure control, according to results from the ENCHANTED international randomized trial.

“These results provide reassurance to clinicians that more intensive blood pressure lowering than currently recommended in guidelines is not harmful and potentially offers benefits in terms of reduced risk of serious brain hemorrhage from thrombolysis treatment,” Dr Craig Anderson from The George Institute for Global Health in Sydney, said by email.

The findings were published in The Lancet to coincide with presentation at the International Stroke Conference of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association in Honolulu.

The optimal blood pressure in patients with acute ischaemic stroke remains controversial, particularly in association with the administration of intravenous thrombolytic treatment.