Modest blood pressure reduction with valsartan in acute ischemic stroke: A prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded-end-point trial

Background and aims: To assess the efficacy and safety of modest blood pressure (BP) reduction with valsartan within 48h after symptom onset in patients with acute ischemic stroke and high BP. Methods: This was a multicenter, prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded-end-point trial. A total of 393 subjects were recruited at 28 centers and then randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive valsartan (n=195) or no treatment (n=198) for seven-days after presentation. The primary outcome was death or dependency, defined as a score of 3-6 on the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 90 days after symptom onset. Early neurological deterioration (END) within seven-days and 90-day major vascular events were also assessed. Results: There were 372 patients who completed the 90-day follow-up. The valsartan group had 46 of 187 patients (24·6%) with a 90-day mRS 3-6, compared with 42 of 185 patients (22·6%) in the control group (odds ratio [OR], 1·11; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0·69-1·79; P=0·667). The rate of major vascular events did not differ between groups (OR, 1·41; 95% CI, 0·44-4·49; P=0·771). There was a significant increase of END in the valsartan group (OR, 2·43; 95% CI, 1·25-4·73; P=0·008). Conclusions: Early reduction of BP with valsartan did not reduce death or dependency and major vascular events at 90 days, but increased the risk of END.