CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS OF ARTERIAL BLOOD PRESSURE IN ISCHEMIC AND HEMORRHAGIC STROKE

Circadian variations of arterial blood pressure (ABP) measured by ambulatory BP monitoring demonstrate a “dipper” pattern in healthy individuals of both genders, with a decline in nocturnal ABP. “Nondipper” ABP circadian pattern is considered abnormal because of its association with advanced target organs damage and worse prognosis (1). Patients with secondary hypertension and some patients with primary hypertension have a high risk of stroke, and abnormal circadian ABP patterns are more prevalent in patients with stroke (70%–90% versus <50% in nonstroke populations) (1, 2).