The Influence of Systemic Hypertension on Intracranial Pressure and Edema Formation in Experimental Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Systemic hypertension is not only the most frequent cause of intracerebral hemorrhage but also the most important complication of this disease. In our clinical investigation of 117 cases almost 70% of the patients suffered from systemic hypertension. Despite advances in diagnosis (Schiirmann, Dei Anang, 1980) mortality of hypertensive patients was 48%. Normotensive hemorrhages showed a better prognosis: only 31% of the patients died and 33% (17% in hypertensive patients) obtained good neurological recovery (Wallenfang et al., 1985).