Mean blood pressure was 167 ( SD 19 ) mm Hg/90 ( 13 ) mm Hg at baseline ( median 26 h [ 16-37 ] after stroke onset ) , and was significantly reduced on day 1 in 2000 patients allocated to glyceryl trinitrate compared with 2011 controls ( difference -70 [ 95 % CI -85 to -56 ] mm Hg / -35 [ -44 to -26 ] mm Hg ; both p < 00001 ) , and on day 7 in 1053 patients allocated to continue antihypertensive drugs compared with 1044 patients randomised to stop them ( difference -95 [ 95 % CI -118 to -72 ] mm Hg / -50 [ -64 to -37 ] mm Hg ; both p < 00001 ) .