Degree and Timing of Intensive Blood Pressure Lowering on Hematoma Growth in Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Intensive Blood Pressure Reduction in Acute Cerebral Hemorrhage Trial-2 Results.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Degree and timing of blood pressure (BP) lowering treatment in relation to hematoma growth were investigated in the Intensive Blood Pressure Reduction in Acute Cerebral Hemorrhage Trial-2 (INTERACT2). METHODS: INTERACT2 was an international clinical trial of intensive (target systolic BP [SBP], 6 hours (5.4 mL). The smallest mean absolute hematoma growth (2.0 mL) was in those achieving target SBP 5 to 8 times versus 3 to 4 (3.1 mL) and 0 to 2 times (5.2 mL). CONCLUSIONS: Intensive BP lowering with greater SBP reduction, which is achieved quickly and maintained consistently, seems to provide protection against hematoma growth for 24 hours. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00716079