[Transitory ischemic attack].
BACKGROUND
Neurological symptoms rapidly resolve after a transitory ischemic attack (TIA). Diffusion-weighted MRI and new clinical studies have greatly increased our understanding of the pathophysiology and clinical impact of TIA. This review presents an update on pathophysiology, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of TIA.


METHODS
This article is based on our clinical experience, European guidelines for acute cerebrovascular disease and recent medical literature found by searching Medline.


CONCLUSIONS
TIA is a warning of a potential cerebrovascular disaster. About 10-13% of TIA patients will have a stroke within a few months, half of them within a few days. A more urgent approach to TIA diagnosis and treatment should prevent many strokes and deaths. All TIA patients should therefore be referred as an emergency to a stroke unit.
Lund
Christian
C
Cerebrovaskulaer seksjon, Nevrologisk avdeling, Rikshospitalet-Radiumhospitalet, 0027 Oslo. christian.lund@rikshospitalet.no
Dahl
Arve
A
Russell
David
D
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed