Feasibility and safety of norepinephrine-induced arterial hypertension in acute ischemic stroke.

The feasibility and safety of induced arterial hypertension (10 to 20% of the initial value) in the acute phase of ischemic stroke were retrospectively evaluated in 34 patients treated with norepinephrine (NE) for a median of 26 hours. Maximal variability of systolic blood pressure during NE application was within 15% of the target values. Cardiac arrhythmia occurred in one patient, and intracerebral hemorrhage occurred in two patients (fatal in one and asymptomatic in the other). The authors conclude that induced arterial hypertension is feasible and safe in patients with acute stroke.