title: Accuracy of two scores in the diagnosis of stroke subtype in a multicenter cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The distinction between hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke has critical implications for management. For that purpose, clinical scores have been proposed to be used in areas with limited health care resources where brain computed tomographic (CT) scan is not readily available. We conducted this study to evaluate the predictive value of the Allen and Siriraj scores in the differential diagnosis of stroke subtypes.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively collected data for 4 years on the clinical characteristics of patients with stroke in a multicenter study. For all patients, we calculated the Allen and the Siriraj scores and we assessed their accuracy in predicting stroke subtypes with receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We assessed 1,023 patients. Of these, 82.7% (n=846) had ischemic stroke. The area under the ROC curve was higher for Siriraj score compared with the Allen score (0.780 versus 0.702; P=.04). Using the original cutoff points, Siriraj score has a sensitivity for the diagnosis of hemorrhage of 60% and a specificity of 95%; the corresponding values for the Allen score are 55% and 70%, respectively. The negative predictive value was higher for Siriraj score compared to the Allen score (90% versus 80%). The diagnosis of stroke subtype was best predicted at Siriraj score less than -4.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Siriraj score is a valid and useful tool for predicting stroke subtype in a clinical setting in which financial constraints make systematic brain CT scan unfeasible.
authors: Emergency Department and Research Unit 04/UR/08-20, Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital, Monasitr, Tunisia. semir.nouira@rns.tn
authors: Semir
authors: S
authors: Nouira
authors: Riadh
authors: R
authors: Boukef
authors: Wahid
authors: W
authors: Bouida
authors: Soudani
authors: S
authors: Marghli
authors: Zohra
authors: Z
authors: Dridi
authors: Soufiène
authors: S
authors: Benamou
authors: Mahbouba
authors: M
authors: Frih
authors: Habib
authors: H
authors: Gamra
mesh_terms: D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis*