[Risk factors and prognostic variables in transient ischemic attacks and in infarctions with minimal sequelae. A...

There are no clinical differences accounting for a distinction between transient ischemic attack (TIA) and cerebral infarct with minimal sequelae (IMS). The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether there are diverse risk factors involving a different prognosis in these two groups.

144 patients with TIA and 110 with IMS of atherothrombotic origin were prospectively controlled during a mean period of 21 months. Risk factors in both groups were compared with the calculation of the odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). The prognosis of the series was evaluated with survival curves, considering as end points the development of recurrences or cardiovascular death.

In the TIA group there was a higher rate of previous TIA (OR = 3.6; 95%Ci = 1.5-8.6) and a smaller prevalence of hypertension (OR = 0.45; 95%CI = 0.27-0.76). There were no significant differences between both groups regarding the probability of survival without TIA or cerebral infarction. Cox's proportional risk analysis selected the stenosis of supraaortic arterial trunks and hyperglycemia as the only factors with independent prognostic significance.

These results do not support the classification of reversible ischemic attacks into TIA and IMS. Both groups have similar risk factors with a similar prognosis.