Association of Arterial Hypertension with Poor Outcome in Children with Acute Brain Injury

We studied intensive care unit (ICU) records of 42 comatose children with acute brain injuries to define the relationship between high arterial blood pressure and poor neurologic recovery. Diagnoses included head trauma, anoxia, Reye's syndrome, and central nervous system infection. The highest systolic blood pressure in all 42 patients exceeded the 95th percentile. In those whose highest systolic pressure exceeded 95th percentile by more than 20 torr, severe neurologic deficit or death occurred in 19 of 34 (56%), while in those with milder hypertension, poor outcome occurred in only one of eight (13%, p = 0.0316). Of those with high blood pressure persisting until ICU discharge, 14 of 19 (74%) had poor outcome, while those with blood pressure normalizing prior to ICU discharge had poor outcome in only six of 23 (26%, p = 0.0026). High blood pressure was not usually a reflex effect of elevated intracranial pressure. This finding suggests that measures to control high blood pressure are indicated in the management of the acutely brain-damaged child.