Adding spironolactone to usual care lowered home blood pressure in a small randomized study of stroke survivors, according to preliminary results released November 7 at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions in Chicago.
The REDUCE trial enrolled 160 adults with uncontrolled blood pressure after either a clot-caused or bleeding stroke at five U.S. medical centers. At three months, systolic pressure averaged nearly 8 mm Hg lower with the added medication. The blood-pressure target below 130/80 mm Hg was reached by 52% of that group, compared with 30% receiving usual care.
The trial did not establish whether spironolactone prevents another stroke or heart attack. Enrollment stopped below the planned 200 participants, about 15% lacked three-month measurements, and treatment assignments were known to participants and researchers.
Serious adverse-event rates were similar. Elevated potassium occurred in about 4% receiving spironolactone. The findings remain preliminary: they were presented as a conference abstract, rather than a peer-reviewed full manuscript.