Abstract: ObjectiveTo investigate the characteristics of the ambulatory blood pressure of acute cerebral infarction patients in the first 24 hours from onset and to study the relationship between their neurological deficit and characteristics of blood pressure.MethodsBlood pressure in 31 acute cerebral infarction patients (within 24 h) was measured serially during the first 24 hours in hospital with ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Their neurological deficit was assessed with the National Institutes of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) on the first and the fifth day. Results83.87% nocturnal blood pressures decreased less than 10%. In multiple linear regression analysis, 24 h diastolic blood pressure (DBP) becomes the only and the most important factor to NIHSS on the first day. The patients with improved NIHSS on the fifth day showed lower nocturnal DBP and mean arterial pressure (MAP) than those of patients with unimproved NIHSS.ConclusionNot only the level but also the circadian of ambulatory blood pressure in acute cerebral infarction patients is significantly abnormal, especially for the reduction of nocturnal blood pressure decrease. On the first day, the neuroulogical deficit and blood pressure influence each other. The patients with higher nDBP and nMAP on the first day may be associated with poor early neurological function outcomes.

Key words: ambulatory blood pressure, cerebral infarction, acute stage, neurological deficit