ANGIOTENSIN RECEPTOR BLOCKADE IN ACUTE STROKE: AN UPDATE ON THE SCANDINAVIAN CANDESARTAN ACUTE STROKE TRIAL (SCAST)

Abstract

Background: It has long been debated whether high blood pressure should be lowered in the acute phase of stroke. ACCESS (Stroke 2003;34:1699) suggested a beneficial effect of the angiotensin receptor blocker candesartan in the acute phase of stroke, but these findings need to be confirmed in new, large trials. Methods: SCAST is an international, investigator-initiated, randomising, placebo-controlled, double blinded trial of candesartan in acute stroke. Patients presenting within 30 hours of stroke (ischaemic or haemorrhagic) and systolic blood pressure > 140 mmHg are randomly assigned to candesartan or placebo for 7 days (doses increasing from 4 to 16 mg once daily). The follow-up period is..