OBJECTIVETo study the effect of different blood pressure control targets on hematoma enlargement and prognosis in patients within 48 h after hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage (HCH).

METHODSBetween January, 2013 and July, 2016, 102 patients with HCH were randomized into group A (51 cases) and group B (51 cases) with different systolic blood pressure (SBP) control targets within 48 h. The patients in group A were given early active antihypertensive treatment with SBP control target of 130-140 mm Hg; those in group B received standard antihypertensive treatment with SBP control target of 170-180 mm Hg. The changes in the volume of hematomas and the patients' prognosis were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSAfter 48 h of treatment, SBP, hematoma volume and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score were significantly lower and Glasgou Coma Scale (GCS) score was significantly higher in group A than in group B (P<0.01 or 0.05). After 30 days of treatment, the patients in group A showed significantly better indicators of treatment efficacy than those in group B (Z=2.331, P=0.020). The mortality rate was lower in group A than in group B, but the difference was not statistically significant (Χ=2.772, P=0.096).

CONCLUSIONEarly active antihypertensive treatment is safe and feasible in patients with HCH and can reduce the enlargement of the hematomas, alleviate deterioration of neurological function, and improve the prognosis of the patients.