Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Intensive Blood Pressure Intervention in Stroke (IBIS) Trial
Brief Summary: The investigators propose to conduct a multicenter randomized controlled trial to test the effect of a systolic blood pressure target of less than 120 mmHg (intensive treatment) compared to a target of less than 140 mmHg (standard treatment) on the risk of total recurrent stroke (ischemic and hemorrhagic) among patients with a recent ischemic stroke. The study findings will help in the development of clinical guidelines for blood pressure management among patients with ischemic stroke and will have an important global impact on reducing stroke-related morbidity and mortality.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* 75 years of age or older
* Seated clinic systolic BP \>150 mmHg in the untreated state (see criterion D)
* At risk for cerebrovascular disease (history of smoking, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes, longstanding hypertension, family history). Patients must have visible (0.5% WMH or more)white-matter hypertensity lesions on screening magnetic resonance imaging
* To achieve success in maintaining a 24-hour systolic BP of \<140-145 mmHg in the standard treatment group or a systolic BP \<125-130 mmHg in the intensive treatment group, patients will be eligible for inclusion if (1) their clinic systolic BP is 150-170 mmHg, and they are taking 0 to 2 antihypertensives, (2) their systolic BP is \>170 mmHg and they are taking 0 to 1 antihypertensives

Exclusion Criteria:

* Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus (HBA1c \>10%)
* History of stroke, dementia or clinically impaired gait (Mini-mental status exam score (MMSE) \<24, Short Physical Performance Battery for gait (SPPB) \< 9,)
* Body Mass Index \> 45 kg/m2 and/or arm circumference \> 44 cm)
* Poor kidney function (defined as estimated GFR \<30 ml/minute)
* Active liver disease or serum transaminases \>3 times the upper limit of normal
* Major cardiovascular event (e.g. myocardial infarction) or procedure (e.g. cardiac bypass surgery) in past 3 months; stroke with residual gait abnormality
* Uncompensated congestive heart failure (NYHA class III or IV or documented ejection fraction \<30%)
* Chronic atrial fibrillation that disallows ambulatory BP monitoring to be successfully performed
* Medical conditions that limit survival to \< 3 years
* Non-dermatologic cancer diagnosed within 2 years
* Organ transplantation requiring anti-rejection drug therapy
* Severe and unexplained weight loss (\>15%) in past 6 months
* Medical need to undergo recurrent phlebotomy or blood transfusions
* Current participation in another investigational trial
* Unable to obtain informed consent
* Factors limiting adherence to the interventions
* MRI contraindications (including MRI-incompatible implants, severe claustrophobia).
B: INCLUSION:

Small subcortical ischemic stroke or subcortical TIA.

Inclusion criteria are based on TOAST criteria supplemented by required MRI data. All of the following criteria must be met:

* One of the lacunar stroke clinical syndromes (adapted from Fisher) lasting \> 24 hrs within the past 6 months
* Absence of signs or symptoms of cortical dysfunction such as aphasia, apraxia, agnosia, agraphia, homonymous visual field defect, etc.
* No ipsilateral cervical carotid stenosis (≥50%) by a reliable imaging modality done in an approved laboratory since the qualifying small subcortical stroke (S3), if hemispheric.
* No major-risk cardioembolic sources requiring anticoagulation or other specific therapy. Minor-risk cardioembolic sources will be permitted if anticoagulation is not prescribed by the patient's primary care physician.
* Subcortical TIA with corresponding lesion on DWI.
* MRI evidence of S3: a. Presence of an S3 (1.5 and 2 cm in diameter corresponding to the qualifying event on DWI; when TIA, ADC image must confirm lesion or T2/FLAIR (hyperintense lesions) (required for all brainstem events) OR multiple S3s on FLAIR/TI(\<1.5 cm in diameter) (hypointense lesions) b. Absence of cortical stroke and large subcortical stroke (recent or remote).

EXCLUSION:

To be eligible for entry into the study, the patient must not meet any of the criteria listed below:

* Disabling stroke (Modified Rankin Scale less than or equal to 4)
* Previous intracranial hemorrhage (excluding traumatic) or hemorrhagic stroke
* Age under 30 years
* High risk of bleeding (e.g. recurrent GI or GU bleeding, active peptic ulcer disease, etc)
* Anticipated requirement for long-term use of anticoagulants (e.g. recurrent DVT) or other antiplatelets
* Prior cortical stroke (diagnosed either clinically or by neuroimaging), or prior cortical or retinal TIA
* Prior ipsilateral carotid endarterectomy
* Impaired renal function: GFR \<40
* Intolerance or contraindications to aspirin or clopidogrel (including thrombocytopenia, prolonged INR)
* A score \< 24 (adjusted for age and education) on the Folstein Mini Mental Status Examination
* Medical contraindication to MRI
* Pregnancy or women of child-bearing potential who are not following an effective method of contraception
* Geographic or social factors making study participation impractical
* Unable or unwilling to provide informed consent
* Unlikely to be compliant with therapy/unwilling to return for frequent clinic visits
* Patients concurrently participating in another study with an investigational drug or device
* Other likely specific cause of stroke (e.g. dissection, vasculitis, prothrombotic diathesis, drug abuse)
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus, as determined by the new American Diabetes Association guidelines, which include a fasting plasma glucose level greater than 126 mg/dl (7.0 mmol/l), or a 2-hour postload value in the oral glucose tolerance test of greater than 200 mg/dl, with confirmation by a retest
* For participants aged 40 years or older, history of CVD (heart attack, stroke, history of coronary revascularization, history of peripheral or carotid revascularization, or demonstrated angina)
* For participants aged 55 years or older, a history of CVD is not required, but participant must be considered to be at high risk for experiencing a CVD event due to existing CVD, subclinical disease, or 2+ CVD risk factors
* HbA1c 7.5%-9% (if on more drugs) or 7.5%-11% (if on fewer drugs)
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* Men and women aged ≥40 years
* A history of symptomatic, MRI/CT-confirmed ischemic stroke (3-12 months since last acute onset)
* Systolic BP ≥140 mmHg on 0 medication; 135-180 mmHg on 1 medication; 135-170 mmHg on up to 2 medications; 135-160 mmHg on up to 3 medications; or 135-150 mmHg on up to 4 medications

Exclusion Criteria:

* Documented symptomatic intracranial and/or extracranial stenosis (≥50%), or asymptomatic intracranial and/or extracranial stenosis (≥70%)
* Disabling stroke (modified Rankin score of ≥4)
* Previous intracranial hemorrhage from a non-traumatic cause
* Any symptoms of orthostatic hypotension during the standing BP measurement, or standing systolic BP \<110 mmHg
* Severe heart failure (NY Heart Association class III and IV) within the past six months or left ventricular ejection fraction (by any method) \<35%
* Any history of atrial fibrillation, ventricular aneurysm, or suspicion of cardioembolic pathology for stroke
* Other specific cause of stroke identified by routine clinical care (e.g., arteritis, dissection, migraine/vasospasm, drug abuse)
* Dialysis, eGFR \<20 ml/min/1.73 m2, urine protein-to-creatinine ratio ≥1 g/g, or albumin-to-creatinine ratio ≥ 600 mg/g
* Planned or probable revascularization (any angioplasty or vascular surgery) within three months after screening
* A medical condition likely to limit survival to less than three years
* A cancer diagnosed and treated within the past two years that, in the judgment of clinical study staff, would compromise a participant's ability to comply with the protocol and complete the trial (except non-melanoma skin cancer, early-stage prostate cancer, or localized breast cancer)
* Any factors judged by the clinic team to be likely to limit adherence to the intervention
* Failure to obtain informed consent from a participant
* Currently participating in another intervention study
* Pregnant, currently trying to become pregnant, or of child-bearing potential and not using birth control

Answer: D