The Effect of Transdermal Glyceryl Trinitrate, a Nitric Oxide Donor, on Blood Pressure and Platelet Function in Acute Stroke

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Hypertension is a common medical complication in acute stroke and is associated with a poor outcome. However, no large trials have assessed the effect of lowering blood pressure (BP) on outcome, and it remains unclear how BP should be managed in acute stroke. We assessed, in a double-blind randomised controlled trial, whether the nitric oxide (NO) donor glyceryl trinitrate (GTN, a known systemic and cerebral vasodilator), would lower BP and alter platelet function. Methods: Thirty-seven patients with recent (<5 days) ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke were randomised by minimisation to 12 days of daily treatment with transdermal GTN or matching placebo patches. Twenty-four-hour ambulatory BP was measured before and during GTN treatment at days 0, 1 and 8. Platelet aggregation and expression of adhesion molecules were assessed at the same time points. Functional outcome (Rankin scale) and case fatality were assessed at 3 months. Analysis was by intention-to-treat. Results: GTN significantly lowered BP by 13.0/5.2 mm Hg at day 1 and 9.3/5.0 mm Hg at day 8. The lesser reduction at day 8 than day 1 suggests that tolerance to GTN was developing. Non-significant falls of 0.9/0.6 and 3.8/0.0 mm Hg occurred at days 1 and 8, respectively, in the placebo group. GTN had no effect on heart rate, or platelet aggregation or expression of platelet adhesion molecules, including glycoproteins Ia, Ib, IIIa and P-selectin. Additionally, GTN did not alter case fatality or dependency, although the study was not powered for these outcomes. Conclusions: Transdermal GTN, an NO donor, lowered BP by 5–8%, a clinically significant and relevant, but not excessive, degree in patients with acute stroke. However, GTN had no effect on platelet aggregation or expression of adhesion molecules. Since NO donors increase cerebral blood flow in patients with acute ischaemic stroke, GTN may be an appropriate drug for testing the effect of lowering BP on functional outcome.

Journal

Journal ID (publisher-id): CED

Journal ID (nlm-ta): Cerebrovasc Dis

Journal ID (doi): 10.1159/issn.1015-9770

Title: Cerebrovascular Diseases

Publisher: S. Karger AG

ISSN (Print): 1015-9770

ISSN (Electronic): 1421-9786

Publication date Subscription-year: 2001

Publication date (Print): April 2001

Publication date (Electronic): 06 April 2001

Volume: 11

Issue: 3

Pages: 265-272

Affiliations

^aStroke Group, Department of Medicine, King’s College School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, and ^bDivision of Stroke Medicine, University of Nottingham, UK

Article

Publisher ID: 47649 Other ID: Cerebrovasc Dis 2001;11:265–272

DOI: 10.1159/000047649

PubMed ID: 11306778

SO-VID: 4dd228cc-93d5-41f0-a4fb-b3fb5d3ce8f7

Copyright statement: © 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel

License:

Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug. Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.

Page count

Figures: 2, Tables: 5, References: 48, Pages: 8

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Categories

Subject: Original Paper