title: Baroreflex: a new therapeutic target in human stroke?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Autonomic dysfunction, including increased sympathetic drive and blunted baroreflex, has repeatedly been observed in acute stroke. Of clinical importance is that the stroke-related autonomic imbalance seems to be linked to worse outcome after stroke. Here, we discuss the role of baroreflex impairment in acute stroke and its possible pathophysiological and therapeutic relevance. Summary of Review- Possible mechanisms linking baroreflex impairment with unfavorable outcome in stroke may include increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, promotion of secondary brain injury due to local inflammation, hyperglycemia, or altered cerebral perfusion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest therefore that the modifying of autonomic functions may have important therapeutic implications in acute ischemic as well as in hemorrhagic stroke.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany. marek.sykora@med.uni-heidelberg.de
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sykora
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Diedler
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Turcani
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hacke
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Steiner
mesh_terms: D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017704:Baroreflex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D012021:Reflex, Abnormal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*