Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
Test 'identifies new stroke risk'[ ... Read the full article ... ]
Doctors have developed a simple checklist to show if patients who have had a mini-stroke are at immediate risk of a more serious attack.
The Oxford University team, writing in the Lancet, said it could help identify those needing emergency treatment.
It looks at age, blood pressure, symptoms and how long the mini-stroke, or transient ischemic attack, lasted.
UK guidelines say all such patients should be checked within seven days, but many wait at least two weeks.
The researchers say their guide could be used to help identify the 10% of patients who are at risk of having a major stroke within seven days of a mini-stroke.
Giving this group blood-thinning drugs or other treatments to reduce their blood pressure or cholesterol can cut their risk of further attacks.
Anthony H. Risser | neuroscience | neuropsychology | brain