title: Stroke prediction after transient ischemic attacks in patients admitted to a stroke unit.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) bear a presumed high risk of early recurrence of stroke. Data in the literature, however, are inconsistent, as recurrence rates range from 9.5 to 20%, at 90 days.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study was designed to determine the risk of stroke after TIA.
  
  
  METHODS
  94 consecutive patients referred to a Stroke Unit for TIA or minor stroke, within 24 h of symptom onset, were recruited. Eleven of the 94 patients (12%, 95% CI: 7-20%) had a relapse within 90 days. The relapse consisted of a TIA for 9 patients (10%, 95% CI: 5-17%), or of a stroke for 2 subjects (1%, 95% CI: 0-8%). More than a quarter of the relapses occurred within 1 week from the first TIA. ABCD(2), ABCD(2)-I and ABCD-E+ scores were similar among people with or without relapse.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data seem to confirm previous reports on the relatively low relapse rate for stroke, when TIA patients are promptly assisted in dedicated structures. The findings stress the potential benefit of early intervention in subjects with TIA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, University of Rome 'La Sapienza', Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tari Capone
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cavallari
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Casolla
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Caselli
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pieroni
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Lazzaro
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Napolitano
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stanzione
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Puca
authors.forename: Danilo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Toni
authors.forename: Maurizia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rasura
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Orzi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012008:Recurrence; D012306:Risk; D018570:Risk Assessment; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis*