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Background: Treatment of acute stroke, before a distinction can be made between ischemic and hemorrhagic types, is challenging. Whether very early blood-pressure control in the ambulance improves outcomes among patients with undifferentiated acute stroke is uncertain., Methods: We randomly assigned patients with suspected acute stroke that caused a motor deficit and with elevated systolic blood pressure (≥150 mm Hg), who were assessed in the ambulance within 2 hours after the onset of symptoms, to receive immediate treatment to lower the systolic blood pressure (target range, 130 to 140 mm Hg) (intervention group) or usual blood-pressure management (usual-care group). The primary efficacy outcome was functional status as assessed by the score on the modified Rankin scale (range, 0 [no symptoms] to 6 [death]) at 90 days after randomization. The primary safety outcome was any serious adverse event., Results: A total of 2404 patients (mean age, 70 years) in China underwent randomization and provided consent for the trial: 1205 in the intervention group and 1199 in the usual-care group. The median time between symptom onset and randomization was 61 minutes (interquartile range, 41 to 93), and the mean blood pressure at randomization was 178/98 mm Hg. Stroke was subsequently confirmed by imaging in 2240 patients, of whom 1041 (46.5%) had a hemorrhagic stroke. At the time of patients' arrival at the hospital, the mean systolic blood pressure in the intervention group was 159 mm Hg, as compared with 170 mm Hg in the usual-care group. Overall, there was no difference in functional outcome between the two groups (common odds ratio, 1.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.87 to 1.15), and the incidence of serious adverse events was similar in the two groups. Prehospital reduction of blood pressure was associated with a decrease in the odds of a poor functional outcome among patients with hemorrhagic stroke (common odds ratio, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.60 to 0.92) but an increase among patients with cerebral ischemia (common odds ratio, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.60)., Conclusions: In this trial, prehospital blood-pressure reduction did not improve functional outcomes in a cohort of patients with undifferentiated acute stroke, of whom 46.5% subsequently received a diagnosis of hemorrhagic stroke. (Funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia and others; INTERACT4 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03790800; Chinese Trial Registry number, ChiCTR1900020534.)., (Copyright © 2024 Massachusetts Medical Society.)

Introduction: Renal failure is a major safety concern of intensive systolic blood pressure (SBP) lowering. We aimed to determine the effect of this treatment on early change in renal function in participants of the international Enhanced Control of Hypertension and Thrombolysis Stroke Study (ENCHANTED)., Methods: Post hoc analysis of the ENCHANTED BP-arm in which thrombolyzed patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) were randomized to intensive (target 130-140 mm Hg within 1 h) or guideline-recommended (target <180 mm Hg) management within 6 h of symptom onset. Primary outcome is the early change in renal function, defined by a difference in estimated glomerular filtration rate (∆eGFR = 24 h - baseline eGFR), analyzed using linear regression with adjustment for clinical variables. Key SBP parameters were attained (mean), variability (standard deviation), and magnitude of reduction within 24 h., Results: Of 2,151 participants (mean age 66.9 years; 38% female) included with the available baseline eGFR, there were significant differences in attained 144.3 ± 10.2 versus 149.8 ± 12.0 [Δ5.5 mm Hg]; p < 0.0001), variation (15.1 ± 5.4 vs. 14.0 ± 5.6 mm Hg; p < 0.0001), and magnitude of reduction (44.6 ± 16.2 vs. 38.7 ± 17.6 mm Hg; p < 0.0001) in SBP within 24 h. 1,718 (79.9%) participants with complete follow-up eGFR were included in the primary analysis, and there was no significant difference in ∆eGFR (adjusted mean difference -1.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] -3.14 to -0.94; p = 0.29) between the intensive and guideline groups, respectively. The neutral effect on ∆eGFR was consistent in patients with different baseline eGFR stages and in sensitivity analysis after multiple imputations for missing follow-up eGFR. SBP variability was significantly associated with decreasing ∆eGFR (per 5 mm Hg increase by category: adjusted mean difference -1.35, 95% CI: -2.43 to -0.28; p for trend = 0.01)., Conclusion: Intensive SBP lowering with a target of 130-140 mm Hg had no impact on early renal function in thrombolyzed AIS patients. Wide SBP variability was associated with a larger decline in eGFR., (© 2024 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Background and Aims: Uncertainty persists over the effects of blood pressure (BP) lowering in acute stroke. The INTEnsive ambulance-delivered blood pressure Reduction in hyper-Acute stroke Trial (INTERACT4) aims to determine efficacy and safety of hyperacute intensive BP lowering in patients with suspected acute stroke. Given concerns over the safety of this treatment in the pre-hospital setting, particularly in relation to patients with intracerebral hemorrhage, we provide an update on progress of the study and profile of participants to date., Methods: INTERACT4 is an ongoing multicentre, ambulance-delivered, randomized, open-label, blinded endpoint trial of pre-hospital BP lowering in patients with suspected acute stroke and elevated BP in China. Patients are randomized via a mobile phone digital system to intensive (target systolic BP [SBP] <140mmHg within 30 min) or guideline-recommended BP management. Primary outcome is an ordinal analysis of the full range of scores on the modified Rankin scale scores at 90 days., Results: Between March 2020 and April 2023, 2053 patients (mean age 70 years, female 39%) were recruited with a mean BP 178/98 mmHg in whom 45% have a diagnosis of primary intracerebral hemorrhage upon arrival at hospital. At the time of presentation to hospital, the mean SBP was 160 and 170mmHg in the intensive and control groups (Δ10 mmHg), respectively. The independent data and safety monitoring board has not identified any safety concerns and recommended continuation of the trial. The sample size was reduced from 3116 to 2320 after meetings in August 2022 as the stroke mimic rate was persistently lower than initially estimated (6% vs 30%). The study is expected to be completed in late 2023 and the results announced in May 2024., Conclusions: INTERACT4 is on track to provide reliable evidence of the effectiveness of ambulance-delivered intensive BP lowering in patients with suspected acute stroke., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03790800 ; registered on 2 January 2019. Chinese Trial Registry ChCTR1900020534 , registered on 7 January 2019., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Uncertainty exists over the optimal level of blood pressure (BP) after mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS)., Objectives: We aim to determine the effectiveness and safety of intensive BP-lowering following MT reperfusion of large-vessel occlusion (LVO)-related AIS., Design: The second ENhanced Control of Hypertension ANd Thrombolysis strokE stuDy (ENCHANTED2) is an investigator-initiated, multicenter, prospective, randomized, open, blinded-endpoint (PROBE) trial of intensive systolic BP (SBP) control in reperfused (extended treatment in cerebral infarction (eTICI) classification 2b/2c/3) LVO-AIS patients with persistent hypertension (SBP ⩾ 140 mmHg) at 60+ sites in China, and Australia and the United Kingdom. Eligible patients are centrally randomly allocated to more- (target SBP ⩽ 120 mmHg within 1 h) or less-intensive (target SBP 140-180 mmHg) BP management, to be maintained for 72 h. Primary outcome is an ordinal shift analysis of scores on the modified Rankin scale (mRS) at 90 days. Sample size of 2257 patients provides 90% power to detect a 6.5% absolute reduction in poor outcome from more-intensive BP-lowering using ordinal logistic regression., Progress: Recruitment started in China in July 2020. At a meeting of the independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board in March 2022 to review primary outcome data available for 347 patients, they recommended suspension of recruitment due to safety concerns in the more-intensive group; which was implemented by the Trial Steering Committee (TSC) with 817 randomized patients only in China. The TSC then stopped recruitment after the safety concerns persisted on further review of the data in June 2022. The TSC will make a decision on restarting the trial with modification of the protocol when the results are made public., Discussion: ENCHANTED2 will provide further randomized evidence on the role of intensive BP-lowering after reperfusion in MT-treated AIS patients., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04140110; registered 25 October 2019.

Background and Purpose: In thrombolysis-eligible patients with acute ischemic stroke, there is uncertainty over the most appropriate systolic blood pressure (SBP) lowering profile that provides an optimal balance of potential benefit (functional recovery) and harm (intracranial hemorrhage). We aimed to determine relationships of SBP parameters and outcomes in thrombolyzed acute ischemic stroke patients., Methods: Post hoc analyzes of the ENCHANTED (Enhanced Control of Hypertension and Thrombolysis Stroke Study), a partial-factorial trial of thrombolysis-eligible and treated acute ischemic stroke patients with high SBP (150-180 mm Hg) assigned to low-dose (0.6 mg/kg) or standard-dose (0.9 mg/kg) alteplase and intensive (target SBP, 130-140 mm Hg) or guideline-recommended (target SBP <180 mm Hg) treatment. All patients were followed up for functional status and serious adverse events to 90 days. Logistic regression models were used to analyze 3 SBP summary measures postrandomization: attained (mean), variability (SD) in 1-24 hours, and magnitude of reduction in 1 hour. The primary outcome was a favorable shift on the modified Rankin Scale. The key safety outcome was any intracranial hemorrhage., Results: Among 4511 included participants (mean age 67 years, 38% female, 65% Asian) lower attained SBP and smaller SBP variability were associated with favorable shift on the modified Rankin Scale (per 10 mm Hg increase: odds ratio, 0.76 [95% CI, 0.71-0.82]; P <0.001 and 0.86 [95% CI, 0.76-0.98]; P =0.025) respectively, but not for magnitude of SBP reduction (0.98, [0.93-1.04]; P =0.564). Odds of intracranial hemorrhage was associated with higher attained SBP and greater SBP variability (1.18 [1.06-1.31]; P =0.002 and 1.34 [1.11-1.62]; P =0.002) but not with magnitude of SBP reduction (1.05 [0.98-1.14]; P =0.184)., Conclusions: Attaining early and consistent low levels in SBP <140 mm Hg, even as low as 110 to 120 mm Hg, over 24 hours is associated with better outcomes in thrombolyzed acute ischemic stroke patients. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT01422616.

Background: The ENhanced Control of Hypertension And Thrombolysis strokE study (ENCHANTED) trial was initiated as a 2 × 2 partial-factorial active-comparison, prospective, randomized, open, blinded endpoint clinical trial to evaluate in thrombolysis-eligible acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients whether: (1) Arm A - low-dose (0.6 mg/kg body weight) intravenous (iv) alteplase has noninferior efficacy and lower risk of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) compared with standard-dose (0.9 mg/kg body weight) iv alteplase; and (2) Arm B - early intensive blood pressure (BP) lowering (systolic target 130-140 mmHg) has superior efficacy and lower risk of ICH compared with guideline-recommended BP control (systolic target <180 mmHg). Arm A was completed in 2016; Arm B is now concluding., Objective: To outline in detail and make public the predetermined statistical analysis plan (SAP) for the 'BP control' arm of this study., Methods: All data collected by participating researchers will be reviewed and formally assessed. Information pertaining to the baseline characteristics of patients, their process of care, and the delivery of treatments will be outlined, and for each item, statistically relevant descriptive elements will be described. For the trial outcomes, the most appropriate statistical comparisons to be made between groups are planned and described., Results: A SAP was developed for the results of the BP control arm of this study that is transparent, available to the public, verifiable, and predetermined before completion of data collection., Conclusions: We have developed a predetermined SAP for the ENCHANTED BP control arm to be followed to avoid analysis bias arising from prior knowledge of the study findings., Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01422616); ISRCTN Register (ISRCTN82387104); Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12611000236998); EU Clinical Trials Register (2011-005545-12); and Clinical Trials Registry - India (REF/2017/05/014334).

Background and Purpose: Limited data exist on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH). We aimed to determine baseline factors associated with HRQoL among participants of the pilot and main phases of the Intensive Blood Pressure Reduction in Acute Cerebral Haemorrhage Trials (INTERACT 1 and 2)., Methods: The INTERACT studies were randomised controlled trials of early intensive blood pressure (BP) lowering in patients with ICH (<6 hours) and elevated systolic BP (150-220 mm Hg). HRQoL was determined using the European Quality of Life Scale (EQ-5D) at 90 days, completed by patients or proxy responders. Binary logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with poor overall HRQoL., Results: 2756 patients were included. Demographic, clinical and radiological factors associated with lower EQ-5D utility score were age, randomisation outside of China, antithrombotic use, high baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, larger ICH, presence of intraventricular extension and use of proxy responders. High (≥14) NIHSS score, larger ICH and proxy responders were associated with low scores in all five dimensions of the EQ-5D. The NIHSS score had a strong association with poor HRQoL (p<0.001). Female gender and antithrombotic use were associated with decreased scores in dimensions of pain/discomfort and usual activity, respectively., Conclusions: Poor HRQoL was associated with age, comorbidities, proxy source of assessment, clinical severity and ICH characteristics. The strongest association was with initial clinical severity defined by high NIHSS score., Trial Registration Numbers: NCT00226096 and NCT00716079; Post-results., (Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.)

The third INTEnsive care bundle with blood pressure Reduction in Acute Cerebral hemorrhage Trial (INTERACT3) is an international, multicenter, stepped-wedge (4 phases/3 steps) cluster randomized trial involving 110 hospitals in mainly low- and middle-income countries during 2017–2022. The aim is to determine the effectiveness of a goal-directed care bundle of intensive blood pressure (BP) lowering, glycemic control, antipyrexia, and anticoagulation reversal treatment versus usual standard of care, in patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). After a "usual care" period, hospitals were randomly allocated to implementing care-bundle protocols for control targets (systolic BP <140 mm Hg; glucose 6.1–7.8/7.8–10.0 mmol/L according to diabetes mellitus status; temperature ≤37.5°C; normalization of anticoagulation). A sample size of 8,360 patients (mean 19 per phase per site) provides 90% power (α = 0.05) for a 5.6% absolute improvement in the primary outcome of scores on the modified Rankin scale at 6 months, analyzed by ordinal logistic regression. A detailed statistical analysis plan (SAP) was developed to prespecify the method of analysis for all outcomes and key variables collected in the trial. The primary analysis will use ordinal logistic regression adjusted for the stepped-wedge design. The SAP also includes planned sensitivity analyses, including covariate adjustments, missing data imputations, and subgroup analysis. This SAP allows transparent, verifiable, and prespecified analyses in consideration of the challenges in conducting the study during the COVID pandemic. It also avoids analysis bias arising from prior knowledge of the findings in determining the benefits and harms of a care bundle in acute ICH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early pre-hospital initiation of blood pressure (BP) lowering could improve outcomes for patients with acute stroke, by reducing hematoma expansion in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and time to reperfusion treatment and risk of intracranial hemorrhage in ischemic stroke (IS). We present the design of the fourth INTEnsive ambulance-delivered blood pressure Reduction in hyper-ACute stroke Trial (INTERACT4).Methods: A multi-center, ambulance-delivered, prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded endpoint (PROBE) assessed trial of pre-hospital BP lowering in 3116 hypertensive patients with suspected acute stroke at 50+ sites in China. Patients are randomized through a mobile phone digital system to intensive BP lowering to a target systolic BP of < 140 mmHg within 30 min, or guideline-recommended BP management according to local protocols. After the collection of in-hospital clinical and management data and 7-day outcomes, trained blinded assessors conduct telephone or face-to-face assessments of physical function and health-related quality of life in participants at 90 days. The primary outcome is the physical function on the modified Rankin scale at 90 days, analyzed as an ordinal outcome with 7 categories. The sample size was estimated to provide 90% power (α = 0.05) to detect a 22% reduction in the odds of a worse functional outcome using ordinal logistic regression.Discussion: INTERACT4 is a pragmatic clinical trial to provide reliable evidence on the effectiveness and safety of ambulance-delivered hyperacute BP lowering in patients with suspected acute stroke.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03790800. Registered on 2 January 2019; Chinese Trial Registry ChiCTR1900020534. Registered on 7 January 2019. All items can be found in this protocol paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decompressive hemicraniectomy (DHC) can improve outcomes for patients with severe forms of acute ischemic stroke (AIS), but the evidence is mainly derived from non-thrombolyzed patients. We aimed to determine the characteristics and outcomes of early DHC in thrombolyzed AIS participants of the international Enhanced Control of Hypertension and Thrombolysis Stroke Study (ENCHANTED). Post-hoc analyses of ENCHANTED, an international, partial-factorial, open, blinded outcome-assessed, controlled trial in 4557 thrombolysis-eligible AIS patients randomized to low- versus standard-dose intravenous alteplase (Arm A, n = 2350), intensive versus guideline-recommended blood pressure control (Arm B, n = 1280), or both (Arms A + B, n = 947). Logistic regression models were used to identify baseline variables associated with DHC, with inverse probability of treatment weights employed to eliminate baseline imbalances between those with and without DHC. Logistic regression was also used to determine associations of DHC and clinical outcomes of death/disability, major disability, and death (defined by scores 2–6, 3–5, and 6, respectively, on the modified Rankin scale) at 90 days post-randomization. There were 95 (2.1%) thrombolyzed AIS patients who underwent DHC, who were significantly younger, of non-Asian ethnicity, and more likely to have had prior lipid-lowering treatment and severe neurological impairment from large vessel occlusion than other patients. DHC patients were more likely to receive other management interventions and have poor functional outcomes than non-DHC patients, with no relation to different doses of intravenous alteplase. Compared to other thrombolyzed AIS patients, those who received DHC had a poor prognosis from more severe disease despite intensive in-hospital management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale Controversy exists over the optimal dose of intravenous (iv) recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt- PA) and degree of blood pressure ( BP) control in acute ischaemic stroke ( AIS). Asian studies suggest low-dose (0·6 mg/kg) is more efficacious than standard-dose (0·9 mg/kg) iv rt- PA, and guidelines recommend reducing systolic BP to <185 mmHg before and <180 mmHg after use of iv rt- PA, despite observational studies indicating better outcomes at much lower (<140 mmHg) systolic BP levels in this patient group. Aims The study aims to assess in thrombolysis-eligible AIS patients whether: (i) low-dose (0·6 mg/kg body weight; maximum 60 mg) iv rt- PA has non-inferior efficacy and lower risk of symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage (sICH) compared to standard-dose (0·9 mg/kg body weight; maximum 90 mg) iv rt- PA; and (ii) early intensive BP lowering (systolic target 130-140 mmHg) has superior efficacy and lower risk of any ICH compared to guideline-recommended BP control (systolic target < 180 mmHg). Design The ENhanced Control of Hypertension And Thrombolysis strokE stuDy ( ENCHANTED) trial is an independent,2 × 2 quasi-factorial, active-comparison, prospective, randomized, open blinded endpoint ( PROBE), clinical trial that is evaluating Arm [A] 'rt- PA dose' and/or Arm [ B] ' BP control', using central Internet randomization and data collection in patients fulfilling local criteria for thrombolysis and clinician uncertainty over the study treatments. The treatment arms will be analyzed separately. Study outcomes The primary study outcome in both trial Arms is death or disability according to the modified Rankin scale (mRS, scores 2-6) assessed at 90 days. Secondary outcomes include sICH, any ICH, a shift ('improvement') in function across mRS scores, separately on death and disability, early neurological deterioration, recurrent major vascular events, health-related quality of life, length of hospital stay, need for permanent residential care, and health care costs. Results Following launch of the trial in February 2012, the study has recruited more than 2500 patients across a global network of approximately 100 sites in 15 countries. The required sample sizes are 3300 for Arm [A] and 2300 for Arm [ B], which will provide >90% power to detect non-inferiority of low-dose iv rt- PA and superiority of intensive BP lowering on the primary clinical outcome, respectively. Conclusions Low-dose iv rt- PA and early intensive BP lowering could provide more affordable and safer use of thrombolysis treatment for patients with AIS worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Recruitment is complete in the fourth INTEnsive ambulance-delivered blood pressure Reduction in hyper-ACute stroke Trial (INTERACT4), a multicenter, prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded endpoint assessed trial of prehospital blood pressure (BP) lowering initiated in the ambulance for patients with a suspected acute stroke and elevated BP in China. According to the registered and published trial protocol and developed by the blinded trial Steering Committee and Operations team, this manuscript outlines a detailed statistical analysis plan for the trial prior to database lock. Methods: Patients were randomized (1:1) to intensive (target systolic BP 130–140 mm Hg within 30 min) or guideline-recommended BP management (BP lowering only considered if systolic BP >220 mm Hg) group. Primary outcome is an ordinal analysis of the full range of scores on the modified Rankin scale at 90 days. A modified sample size of 2,320 was estimated to provide 90% power to detect a 22% reduction in the odds (common odds ratio of 0.78) of a worse functional outcome using ordinal logistic regression, on the assumption of 5% patients with missing outcome and 6% patients with a stroke mimic. Conclusion: The statistical analysis plan for the trial has been developed to ensure transparent, verifiable, and prespecified analysis and to avoid potential bias in the evaluation of the trial intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]