Transient ischemic attack patients with fluctuations are at highest risk for early stroke.
BACKGROUND
The management and risk of early stroke are unclear in patients with fluctuating neurological symptoms. We aimed to evaluate the clinical course of these patients presenting within 24 h after onset of acute cerebral ischemia symptoms.


METHODS
All patients with transient ischemic signs/symptoms consecutively admitted to our Emergency Stroke Unit were recruited. Patients were neurologically examined and underwent prompt CCT plus MRI imaging for visualization of early signs of ischemia.


RESULTS
Among 122 patients, 84 (69%) had single symptoms, 33 (27%) showed rapidly relapsing and remitting symptoms - in 5 cases (4%) symptom duration could not reliably be assessed. 11/122 (9%) suffered a stroke during hospitalization. ABCD(2) scores did not predict early strokes: 2/11 (18.2%) were in the 'lower risk', 7/11 (63.6%) in the 'moderate risk' and only 2/11 (18.2%) in the 'high risk' group (p = 0.103). 3/11 patients (27.3%) revealed lesions in neuroimaging, but surprisingly 8/11 (72.7%, p = 0.132) did not. However, patients with fluctuations in neurological status were significantly more likely to suffer a stroke: 9/122 versus 2/122 with stable symptoms (p < 0.05). Patients with small vessel disease were common in all (53/ 122; 43.4%) and within those who suffered an early stroke (6/11; 54.5%).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with unstable transient ischemic attacks immediately after onset of clinical symptoms are at high risk for subsequent stroke - they may benefit from Stroke Unit management and potential early thrombolysis once they develop strokes.
Chatzikonstantinou
Anastasios
A
Department of Neurology, Universitätsklinikum Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
Willmann
Olaf
O
Jäger
Theo
T
Szabo
K
K
Hennerici
Michael G
MG
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler