Multicentre prospective, randomised open-label, endpoint-blinded study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of propranolol for the prevention of stroke-associated pneumonia in patients with intracerebral haemorrhage (PROCHASE): rationale and design

Stroke-induced transient immune suppression is believed to contribute to post-stroke infections. The β-adrenergic receptor antagonist, propranolol, has been shown to prevent stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) via reversing post-stroke immunosuppression in preclinical studies and in retrospective analysis in stroke patients. However, whether propranolol can reduce the risk of SAP has not been tested in prospective, randomised controlled trials.